Question: My garden is partially shady. Are there any perennial vines that will grow in partial shade?

Several vines can grow well in shadier spots, even when they typically prefer full sun. 

1. American Groundnut. This attractive vine (Apios americana ) is native to the Eastern United States. The perennial (Zones 3 to 9) grows best in moist, well-drained soil that gets partial shade to full sun. Fragrant flowers bloom in summer and attract butterflies.

2. Sweet Potato Vine. It’s true that sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas) grows well in full sun. But this fast-growing vine often prefers dappled light or partial shade. Sweet potato vine foliage is available in everything from chartreuse to nearly black. This vine likes moist, well-drained soil for best results. Sweet potato vine is a great “spiller” in containers and garden beds. Let it drape from planters, or use it as a colorful ground cover. This plant is grown for its ornamental leaves, not to eat.

3. Chocolate Vine. This vine (Akebia quinata) grows in full sun to partial shade. This perennial (Zones 4 to 8) can be invasive and crowd out native plants. Native to Japan, China and Korea, the attractive chocolate vine grows well in most soil, but particularly likes sandy loam. The fragrant flowers bloom in the spring with chocolate-purple petals. It adds a pretty and old-fashioned look to the garden.

4. Boston Ivy. Boston ivy (Parthenocissus) The fast-growing perennial vine can grow up 6 to 8 feet a year, so keep that in mind before you plant it. Once this vine is growing on something, it becomes much harder to remove. Prune Boston ivy in spring to help control its size. (Zones 4 to 8). In the fall, the foliage turns a brilliant red. This color is best enjoyed when Boston ivy is grown in sunny locations, although the vine will grow well in part-sun and shady spots too. Water the plant well after planting; Boston ivy becomes more drought-tolerant when established.

5. Clematis. (Clematis sp.) Most clematis grow best in full sun, more than 6 hours day, but several varieties will even bloom in partial shade. The low-maintenance, perennial vine (Zones 4 to 9) will attract lots of pollinators to your garden. Grow clematis to drape over fences, arbors or trellises, where the colorful flowers can be enjoyed. This vine can grow up to 20 feet long, with blossoms ranging in color.