Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Looking at the Native Plant Database on our www.wildflower.org website, there are several perennial vines that grow in the shade in California for you to consider for your apartment patio gazebo.

One is Clematis ligusticifolia (Western white clematis). A strong, woody or semi-woody climber to 20 ft. or more. The wide clusters of creamy-white blossoms, from leaf axils on the upper portions of the plant, occur in such profusion they impart a white color to the whole mass of growth. Clematis ligusticifolia is widely adaptable, tough and disease-resistant. Rejuvenate by cutting back to 1 ft. above ground every 3-5 years. In very dry, hot areas, provide afternoon shade and mulch to keep the roots cool. All parts are poisonous. Severe pain in mouth if eaten; skin irritation if touched or inhaled. Symptoms include burning sensation of mouth and mouth ulcers; skin redness and burning sensation. Attracts birds and hummingbirds.

Another to consider is Lonicera ciliosa (Orange honeysuckle). This honeysuckle runs freely on the ground or clambers up trees, sometimes reaching a length of 18 ft. The large, orange, trumpet-shaped flowers occur in dense, terminal clusters just above a large round leaf (two opposite leaves entirely fused). Fruits are red. Leaves are deciduous. Orange Honeysuckle attracts hummingbirds and other wildlife.

Lonicera hispidula (Pink honeysuckle) is another possibility if you can find one that exhibits a good vine form (instead of a shrub form). Native to open woods and shrublands from southwest British Columbia to southwest California, Lonicera hispidula is a member of the honeysuckle family (family Caprifoliaceae), which includes mainly shrubs, sometimes vines or herbs, commonly with showy flowers. This species is one of those peculiar twining shrubs sometimes encountered in genus Lonicera. It usually grows as a loose shrub unless its branches come in contact with something it can twine onto, like a neighboring plant or a fence; then the branches will twine up and out while the center of the plant remains a somewhat stout shrub. Some individuals, though, are more generally vine-like and will trail along the ground with little or no shrubbiness, while others will be more consistently shrubby and will hardly twine at all. Lonicera hispidula is deciduous to semi-evergreen and ranges from 3 to 20 feet high, the greatest heights reached by twining. Attractive pink, rose, or purple flowers appear in spring and summer and decorative red berries in fall.