Shade-Loving Annual Vines That Fill Your Garden With Color

Are you looking for a flowering annual vine to grow o your pergola, trellis, gate or wall? But you cannot offer a full Sun position? Then you will need a shade tolerant variety, and, even with low light, it will still blossom profusely, offer you draping foliage, grow fast and bring its colorful display high up to eye level.

True, there are not many annual varieties that tolerate part – and even less – full shade. These plants last only a season, and they love to get as much sunlight as they can. But there are a few vines that will not mind if your garden is sunny, and some will also self seed.

And so, we went outlooking for the best shade tolerant annual vine varieties to solve your problems and make sure that your garden is a flowering haven, even in low light positions.

10 Decorative Shade Tolerant Vines You Can Grow as Annuals in Your Garden

And these are the varieties of creeping and climbing vines you can grow as annuals in your garden, and not worry if you don’t have full Sun.

• Sweet pea
• Nasturtium
• Scarlet creeper
• Black-eyed Susan vine
• Corkscrew vine
• Love-in-a-puff
• Mexican flame vine
• Spanish flag vine
• Canary vine
• Mandevilla

Some of these shade tolerant vines are natural annuals, others are perennials you can grow as annuals, and the very first in our selection hits all the right spots!

1: Sweet Pea (Lathyrusodoratus)

And I could only start with my all time favorite annual vine: sweet peas! In fact, it will grow well in full Sun, but also light, dappled and part shade, and once you plant it, you will never stop being thankful! Fast growing, it will also blossom very early in the season, in late spring, but it will never stop till the first frost or end of fall! Most varieties belong to theLathyrus odoratusspecies, but there are hybridsand many more cultivars to choose from.

So, you could go for the snow white rounded blossoms of ‘Dorothy Eckford’, with large heads (2 inches across, or 5.0 cm) and winner of the prestigious Award of Garden merit by the Royal Horticultural Society, or the frilly and romantic looking ‘Gwendoline’ which shares size and having won the prize with winter inspired sister… The fact is that the color range is impressive, with whites, pinks, blues, reds, lavenders and purples… Maybe one of the most delicate is the ruffled ‘Lemonister Boy’, with salmon and coral pink tonalities; then again, you could choose bicolor blossoms as well!

Playing with the very accented pea shape of the flowers, with wings, a standard (the top petal) and the keel (the central one) they will also all be true to their name: yes, they are really fragrant indeed! Clinging on to even light support structures with their tendrils, they will also offer you super fresh looking, bright green pairs of ovate leaves, that look like flapping wings. And then imagine all the butterflies, bees and pollinators that will buzz and flutter all over this display!

Super easy to grow, sweet peas need a fresh start in life to blossom. They are best planted in fall, especially in hot regions, because they need cool weather for the first few weeks after sprouting. Apart from this, they will really fill your garden with fragrant and beautiful blossoms till the end of the season, in a marathon of colors and heavenly scents. It is a must have in an English country or cottage garden…

• Hardiness: USDA zones 2 to 11 (annual).
• Light exposure: full Sun, light shade, dappled shade and partial shade.
• Support type: light.
• Flowering season: late spring to late fall.
• Size:3 to 6.7 feet tall (90 cm to 20 meters) and 10 to 12 inches in spread (25 to 30 cm).
• Soil and water requirements:fertile and humus rich, well drained and evenly humid loam, clay or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline (preferred).

2: Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)

Nasturtium is one of the annual vines with the sweetest personality, though it could also be a short lived perennial in warm climates. In any case, it is usually treated as an annual, also because it gives you lot in its very first year. Let’s see what… To start with, this creeper has some of the most amazing foliage ever. The fresh looking, soft leaves are orbicular, which means that they are almost perfectly round.

And the petiole is not in the side, but in the middle, and they look like little parasols… their color is bright green, sometimes with bluish shades, and they and they are also edible, and, in fact, packed with vitamins. But you can also eat its lovely flowers, which blossom all the way from early summer to fall…

They are great to decorate and flavor salads, and the blooms are funnel shaped, about 2 to 3 inches across (5.0 to 7.5 cm), and they are usually bright orange, but there are varieties in cream, yellow, red and even maroon, if you prefer. What is more, they also have a very refreshing fragrance as well.

Shade tolerant, nasturtium has a little exotic touch while preserving a freshness throughout the season, which makes it ideal as ground cover, in rockeries, on slopes,  for edging and even in flower beds. Mass plant it for best effect, and you can grow it with in your vegetable garden as well. While it is a creeper, you can also get it to climb up even light trellises and fences.

• Hardiness: USDA zones 2 to 12 (annual).
• Light exposure:full Sun, light shade, dappled shade and partial shade.
• Support type:not necessary, creeper, but a light support as a climber will suffice.
• Flowering season:late summer to mid or late fall.
• Size:1 to 10 feet long (30 cm to 3.0 meters) and 1 to 3 feet in spread (30 to 90 cm).
• Soil and water requirements:average fertile, well drained and medium humid loam, chalk or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline. It is drought tolerant.

3: Scarlet Creeper (Ipomoea hedrifolia)

Most morning glory varieties like full Sun positions, unless you live in a hot country, where they prefer afternoon shade, and many are perennials, but we found one that suits your needs: scarlet creeper! Native to South America, where it can become invasive in fields, this annual climbing vine will start blossoming in summer and continue through the months of fall, and in tropical and subtropical regions, it will continue into winter!

Born on small clusters  (cymes), each flower will open at night, and it will stay so into the morning hours, and, on cloudy days, even the afternoon, but then it will fade away… They are funnel shaped, opening to a roughly pentagonal mouth with joined petals, and, of course they have the brightest scarlet color ever! However, look into the throats and you will see a bright golden yellow center.

And from there, long and protruding, elegant stamens extend with their cream tonality and end in white anthers. But the leaves are no less of a spectacle. Heart shaped, up to 6 inches long (15 cm), but some are three lobed, they offer you decorative foliage all through the season.

Easy to grow, scarlet creeper will climb up your fences, trellises, pergola or wall in a short time and bring its vibrant blossoms and decorative foliage to your garden fast, and even if lighting conditions are not perfect.

• Hardiness: USDA zones 2 to 11 (as an annual), USDA zones 8 to 11 as a short lived perennial, or for winter blooms.
• Light exposure:full Sun, light shade, dappled shade and partial shade.
• Support type:light.
• Flowering season:mid summer to winter.
• Size:3 to 10 feet long (90 cm to 3.0 meters) and 1 to 2 feet in spread (30 to 60 cm).
• Soil and water requirements:fertile, well drained and medium to lightly humid loam or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline. It is moderately drought tolerant.

4: Black-Eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata)

Native to tropical Africa, black-eyed Susan vine is actually a very tender perennial shade tolerant climber, but it is usually grown as an annual. And in fact, you won’t have to wait too long to see it in full bloom! In fact, the flowers will appear in early simmer and keep coming till fall, and they are 2 inches across (5.0 cm), quite showy and with five, broad and dented petals that look almost like hearts.

They form a flat blossom in bright tangerine to carrot orange (mango sometimes) and with a round black (dark purple) blotch in the center, hence the name… Hanging beautifully and scattered all over the foliage, these offer visual contrast with the sagittate leaves, which form a very dense curtain, and they range in color from bright to dark green. There are now also cultivars in other tonalities, like pink, yellow, cream and apricot, so you can take your pick!

Ideal to hide unsightly walls in a short time, black-eyed Susan vine is also perfect to climb up trellises, arbors or fences, and it will bring an exotic touch to your garden till the end of the season. Alternatively, you can let it fall from high above in hanging baskets.

• Hardiness: USDA zones 2 to 11 as an annual, USDA zones 10 to 11 as a perennial.
• Light exposure:full Sun, light shade, dappled shade and partial shade.
• Support type:light or medium.
• Flowering season:early summer to mid or late fall.
• Size:3 to 8 feet long (90 cm to 2.4 meters) and 3 to 6 feet in spread (90 cm to 1.8 meters).
• Soil and water requirements:fertile and organically rich, well drained and medium humid loam, chalk or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline.

5: Corkscrew Vine (Cochliasanthuscaracalla)

Here is another exotic plant that will tolerate some shade, and, once again, it is actually a perennial in its native habitat, but most gardeners grow it as an annual outside tropical and subtropical regions. Native to Central and South America, it is a vigorous climber that can reach 30 feet tall (9.0 meters). When summer comes, you will see its very striking blossoms appear on racemes, and they will amaze you. Hard to describe, but they are a creative development of the pea shape, as they look like snails, in a way…

This is because their petals spiral onto themselves, in a very, very decorative fashion. On these blossoms you will see tonalities of lilac to violet purple and mauve, which fade into cream and white… Very fragrant, they will open in clusters that can be 1 foot long (30 cm), and they will attract lots of pollinators to your shady garden, like butterflies and bees. The foliage is extremely lush, each dark green leaf being divided into 3 broad and lance shaped leaflets with a glossy surface.

Corkscrew vine is a really striking variety to grow up fences, trellises, arbors and even walls and drape them totally within a short time, filling them with amazing flowers, foliage and a heavenly scent till late in the season.

• Hardiness: USDA zones 2 to 12 as an annual, USDA zones 9 to 12 as a perennial.
• Light exposure: full Sun, light shade, dappled shade and partial shade.
• Support type: medium strong.
• Flowering season: early summer to mid or late fall.
• Size:12 to 30 feet tall (3.6 to 9.0 meters) and 3 to 6 feet in spread (90 cm to 1.8 meters).
• Soil and water requirements:fertile and organically rich, well drained and medium humid loam, clay or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline.

6: Love-in-a-Puff (Cardiospermum halicacabum)

Native to subtropical areas of the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, love-in-a-puff has a very suggestive naked indeed. Again, it is a tender perennial but mainly grown as an annual. Flowering all the way from early summer to fall, the blossoms are really sweet looking and delicate… They appear in small clusters with a central cup and six gently frilled petals like rays… These are white, but at the top of the central crown you will enjoy a rim of canary yellow as well.

They look a bit like little daffodils, but this is not what this shade tolerant climber is famous for… In fact, these blooms will then turn into really decorative fruits, that look like balloons (and it is also called balloon vine, in fact)! They will hang beautifully, drooping like lanterns into late in the season. Waving gently in the wind, this unusual and elegant display is set against one of the most finely textured backdrops ever! And this is all thanks to the amazingly fine foliage, bright green and feathery, and made up of many, layering and deeply cut bright green leaves, with a triangular outlay and a fern like personality.

Shade tolerant love-in-puff is ideal for an elegant trellis, harbor or gate, and it does not require a strong structure to climb on. In our list, it is also one of the few vining annuals that you can also grow in a coastal garden. Being quite cold hardy, you may even want to keep it as a perennial, if you like it.

• Hardiness: USDA zones 2 to 11 as an annual, USDA zones 5 to 11 as a perennial.
• Light exposure: full Sun, light shade, dappled shade and partial shade.
• Support type:light, or medium strong as a perennial.
• Flowering season:early summer to mid fall.
• Size:4 to 10 feet tall (1.2 to 3.0 meters) and 3 to 5 feet in spread (90 cm to 1.5 meters).
• Soil and water requirements:average fertile, well drained and medium humid loam, clay, chalk or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline. It is drought and salt tolerant.

7: Mexican Flame Vine (Senecio confusus)

Mexican flame vine is, of course, native to Mexico, but also Honduras, and it is yet another tender but shade loving perennial in Nature, but as a garden variety, it is often grown as a fast climbing annual, especially un temperate and cold climates. And you will see the results of your efforts very soon indeed, because its energetic and vibrant flower display will start in late spring, and it will keep flaring up all the way to the first frost, when the plant will die.

The blossoms have a double personality, as does this vibe as a whole. On the one side, they are exotic, with the colors of South America in the strongest shades of orange (carrot to fire) you can ever imagine. On the other hand, they are daisy like, or actually more like asters, so traditional looking and with many long and narrow petals, while the central disk displays a tuft of fluffy filaments. This will contrast beautifully with the bright to mid green and very herbaceous looking foliage, which is on the emerald side. The leaves are arrow shaped and very fresh looking, and they form a very dense tapestry indeed.

Perfect to hide an unsightly wall or shad within a short time, Mexican flame vine is a fast growing climber that can bring lots of light and energy to trellises, pergolas and fences while at the same time preserving the fresh feel you get in shady gardens.

• Hardiness: USDA zones 2 to 13 as an annual, USDA zones 9 to 13 as a perennial.
• Light exposure: full Sun, light shade, dappled shade and partial shade.
• Support type: medium strong.
• Flowering season:late spring to late fall.
• Size:6 to 12 feet tall (1.8 to 3.6 meters) and 3 to 6 feet in spread (90 cm to 1.8 meters).
• Soil and water requirements:average fertile, well drained and medium humid loam or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline. It is drought tolerant.

8: Spanish Flag Vine (Ipomoea lobata)

Here is a rare case of annual Ipomoea that tolerates shade, but you will hardly recognize it as one. And in fact, the flowers of Spanish flag vine are not at all funnel shaped, like those of her sisters… No, and the clue is in the name… Starting in early summer and continuing till the end of these season, they look like standards, as they come in upright spikes on upright and purple stalks… Or maybe they will remind you of bird wings, because each bloom looks like a feather coming on one side of the inflorescence…

And there, starting from the bottom, you will see a crescendo of colors that will remind you of the flag of Spain indeed. Bright yellow with white tips lower down, the blossoms blush to orange and then the brightest scarlet red as you get to the tips! Exotic looking and very attractive to bees and butterflies, that will rose from a dense and lush tapestry of bright to dark green foliage, which deepens as the months progress, and each leaf has three decorative and pointed lobes.

Also called firecracker vine, Spanish flag vine is an ideal annual climber to bring little flames of color and very dense foliage over trellises, pergolas, walls and fences. However, while it will tolerate some shade, some gardeners report that it does not perform as well in these light conditions.

• Hardiness: USDA zones 2 to 11 (annual).
• Light exposure: full Sun (preferred), light shade, dappled shade and partial shade.
• Support type: light.
• Flowering season: early to late summer.
• Size:10 to 16 feet tall (3.0 to 5.0 meters) and 2 to 3 feet in spread (60 to 90 cm).
• Soil and water requirements:fertile and humus rich, well drained and medium humid loam, clay or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline.

9: Canary Vine (Tropeolumperegrinum)

Native to South America, canary vine is close relative to black-eyed Susan vine, but it looks totally different, and yes, it will tolerate some shade! Yet another perennial in hot regions, it is mostly grown as an annual climber in most parts of the world. It will start its floral display in early summer and continue giving you joy and light till the end of fall, but… The flowers are hard to describe, apart from one thing: they are definitely super bright golden yellow!

As to the shape, they look very alien indeed… Hanging beautifully in the branches, that have a set of very frilly, deeply cut petals at the top, like butterflies, or spread outbird wings. However, under this you will see long and smooth petals that look, well, lie a man with open arms… And against this embrace you will also notice beautifully arching stamens in the same color… But these blossoms are set against the freshest backdrop ever! The foliage looks very tender, so much so that it looks even appetizing, and it is bright green. Each leaf has a roughly round shaped, but it is also deeply lobed, giving you soft texture as well as great decorative value.

Exotic looking, bright and fresh all at the same time, you can grow canary vine to bring lots of light and a playful display to your shady gardens on light trellises or even a wire fence, but also on pergolas and harbors, if you wish.

• Hardiness: USDA zones 2 to 11 as an annual, and USDA zones 10 to 11 as a perennial.
• Light exposure:full Sun, light shade, dappled shade and partial shade.
• Support type:light.
• Flowering season:early summer to mid or late fall.
• Size:10 to 12 feet tall (3.0 to 3.6 meters) and 1 to 2 feet in spread (30 to 60 cm).
• Soil and water requirements:average fertile, well drained and medium humid loam, clay or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to neutral.

10: Mandevilla (Mandevilla spp.)

Native to Bolivia and Ecuador, mandevilla, dipladenia, or rocktrumpet is a very popular and super showy exotic vine which tolerates shade, and it is often grown as an annual. Of course, being a tropical climber, but also being so beautiful, it is hard to resist it, and because it gives a wonderful display in its first year, most people like to have it in their gardens, and then, get a new plant year after year.

Maybe it needs no introduction at all, but you will definitely marvel at its large and trumpet shaped blooms, that reach 4 inches across (10 cm), and they have that striking helix like petal arrangement… Coming in white, pink, red and white, and often with a yellow throat, there are many varieties and cultivars you can choose from, including the newly bred “Yellow Trumpet” with golden as its choice… The broad leaves are lustrous and glossy, with a smooth surface and they will give you a deep green backdrop for its amazing blossoms.

A very popular climber for full Sun to part shade, mandevilla is very easy to find in garden centers and even non specialized stores. If you want a vine with a super exotic touch for window boxes, hanging baskets, light trellises or even a pergola, but you live in a cold region, just grow it as an annual. It is always best grown in containers.

• Hardiness: USDA zones 2 to 11 as an annual, USDA zones 10 to 11 as a perennial.
• Light exposure: full Sun, light shade, dappled shade and partial shade.
• Support type: light.
• Flowering season: late spring or early summer to late fall, depending on the variety.
• Size:4 to 15 feet tall (1.2 to 4.5 meters) and 1 to 5 feet in spread (30 cm to 1.5 meters), depending on the variety.
• Soil and water requirements:fertile and humus rich, well drained and medium humid loam based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline.

Climbing Annual Vines to Bring Great Blooms High Up in Your Shady Garden

True, there are not that many varieties of annuals you can grow in shady gardens, let alone vines. But if you have a trellis, wall, fence or pergola in little light and you want results within a year, now you know which variety you can choose!