Fast Growing Vines for Shade (x-posted Green Living)

[pampered_mom]

We rely heavily upon the shade trees in our neighborhood to keep the house cool enough in the summer - we have an ancient air conditioner that's just about as good as not having one at all. Because of the number of trees we have our neighborhood is typically a good 5-10 degrees cooler than the more "modern" parts of our city.

However, the neighbor just cut down this huge, gorgeous maple tree that shaded our house during some of the warmest hours of the day. While today isn't all that warm or humid I have noticed a *huge* difference in the amount/quality of light we see. I need to come up with a shade alternative - I realize that I can't likely do anything this year, but need to have a plant for next year.

I have seen where folks have used fast grown vines to shade their house. We have wood siding so it's not something I'd want growing up the house, but I had thought about a trellis instead. Do you think that would work? I've got two windows on that side of the house that I wouldn't necessarily want to block airflow from.

Any ideas on fast growing vines - preferably perennial - for zone 5?

[MissMommyNiceNice]

Native honeysuckle or trumpet vine. I've seen the trumpet vine cover an entire barn. It's an agressive native, and it grows fast! It also gets bigger every year. It doesn't really send out runners too badly like an ivy or virginia creeper. Just make sure your trellis is sturdy, because it gets heavy! The leaves are big and plentiful. The native honeysuckle is slightly less agressive and grows slower. Both will bring bees, butterflies, & hummingbirds your way.

[serenetabbie]

We're in 5 too. Trumpet vine grows crazy fast. Our neighbors cut theirs back every fall and by late summer it covers their whole front fence. IMO, you should just plant another tree! You can get a nice landscape sized tree for not too terribly much.

[Owen'nZoe]

Hops are another fast-growing vine that grow well in zone 5. My neighbors used to grow them on wires stretched from the ground to the eaves of their house. Each year they grew to the eaves in no time. Grapes would be another fast growing vine that wouldn't adhere to the house, but would cover a trellis quickly.

[pampered_mom]

I would love to plant another tree, but the side portion of our lot is incredibly small - at most a mower's width. I don't think there'd be room enough for one to grow.

Interesting about honeysuckle and trumpet vine. I'll have to do some research as I haven't seen them. I had considered both hops and grape vines (Mother Earth News had an article back in the 70s suggesting grape vines for a natural shade plant). Both of hops and grapes would be useful for more than their shade so that's certainly attractive.

[MissMommyNiceNice]

If you contact your local extension office, they should know where you can pick up some native plants. Many host sales as fundraisers in the spring & fall, the best time to plant most of the natives. Depending on where you are, if you're in PA like Laura & me, you can contact Penn State's extension. They run all of them for PA. many finer nurseries also carry a limited selection of natives. A few I can think of that are smaller chains are ones like Christmas Tree Hill & Stauffers of Kissel Hill.