Vine for the dark side

[Your Letters 2]

My balcony faces east and is bordered by evergreens about knee-high. I would like to plant a fragrant climber like Clematis or Honeysuckle. How will that work, since no sun will reach the newcomer in the spring to tell it to sprout. The property belongs to the center, so ripping out is NOT an option:(

Thanks for your help. - M -

[Janet Macunovich 32]

Has anyone here on the Forum been in exactly this situation, with a for-real experience and maybe a vine to suggest?

 

I THINK the vine will sprout fine just because the light will increase in spring, even in the shade. Slow, late growth that will speed up when it reaches the light, just as a weed tree growing up through a bush. I also think M won't SEE much flower even if the plant manages to bloom because the flowers will form only on the parts of the plant in full sun. Vines on the north sides of privacy/stockade fences do this all the time. They bloom their hearts out to passersby on the street but that's all unseen by the gardener on the darker side of the fence.

[Your Letters 2]

My balcony is facing east (gorgeous morning sun), but the evergreen shrubs are knee high. And a little color (with a light scent) would be very much appreciated.

[Marilyn A 0]

At Tollgate Farm in Novi, we have a Betty Corning clematis growing on the east side of the Conference Center barn.  It's in an L-shaped area with the conveference center to it's south (so it's shaded once the sun passes behind the conference center.  I admire how many blooms it has every year.

[gardenlady250 1]

I have myrtle and English Ivy on the back (east)  and side/north side of my house and both do very well but the myrtle does NOT bloom on the north side of the house.   They are not fragrant but they do grow abundantly.