Shade plants add privacy, beauty to chain-link fence

Q: We have a chain-link fence shaded by trees at the back of our yard and would like to add plants to obscure it and give us privacy from our neighbor. Would you suggest some that would grow in the shade?

A: Chain-link fences might not be attractive to look at, but they are popular because they are long-lasting, practically indestructible, and they provide security. Every time I pass one, I see an opportunity to support wonderful plants. In your case, you need to find plants that will thrive in shady conditions.

You could plant a vigorous vine on the fence. Climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala) will cloak a fence and bloom in June with large white, lacecap hydrangea flowers. Although deciduous, it has a strong branch structure that is attractive in winter. It is a vigorous grower to 60 to 80 feet, so containing it in maturity will require annual pruning.

Schizophragma hydrangeoides is a hydrangea relative with yellow flowers or, in the cultivar 'Rosea,' pink ones. This deciduous vine will reach 40 feet.

A small-leafed evergreen shrub, winter creeper (Euonymus fortunei), will act as a climber and scramble up a fence. The cultivar 'Silver Queen' brightens up a shady spot. The white edging on the leaves is tinged pink in winter.

Don't think your job is done when you have the fence covered with a trellis or vine. Layer the screening by planting shrubs in front. Instead of planting all the same plants to make a uniform hedge, choose a variety of shrubs so they become part of the garden, not just a backdrop to it.

Select plants of varying leaf sizes and textures to create complementary patterns. Consider also choosing a variety of foliage colors.

In my garden, silk tassel bush (Garrya elliptica) is becoming a good evergreen screen in a shady area. Garden books say it likes full sun, but it is worth a try in partial shade. This is a slow-growing shrub and not available in large sizes, so on general principles I recommend you buy one whenever you see it for sale in a gallon pot. You will come to thank me in three or four years when it grows up and sends out its dramatic pendulous catkins in winter, up to 10 inches long in cultivars such as 'James Root.'

Plume cedar (Cryptomeria japonica 'Elegans') is a finely and softly textured conifer. It will reach 10 to 15 feet in 10 years, and if you are lucky to live so long, 40 to 60 feet in great age. Don't let the possible height scare you away from this excellent screening plant for part shade. The foliage is very dense and turns bronzy purple in cold weather then back to green again in the spring.

I have admired a cultivar, 'Elegans Viridis,' that is fresh green year-round and would glow in a shaded area.

Don't overlook our native salal (Gaultheria shallon) and Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium), both of which are fine evergreen screening plants for shade.

Japanese aralia (Fatsia japonica) has a jungle texture with its big leaves and odd fruit. Reaching 5 to 8 feet, it can be pruned back when necessary to control height and increase denseness.

Another large-leafed plant for shade is bear's breech (Acanthus mollis), a perennial that is evergreen most years. Hard freezes can kill it to the ground, and then it will come back from the roots. The leaves reach 3 feet with flower spikes growing to 5 feet.

Heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica) has a fernlike texture that would be a good foil for larger-leafed plants. Not a true bamboo, it does not spread like bamboo. It grows to 6 to 8 feet, while many of its cultivars are lower growing.

Another good evergreen shrub, drooping leucothoe (Leucothoe fontanesiana), takes sun or shade and grows to 4 to 6 feet. The leaves turn bronzy purple in fall.

Phil Wood has a degree in landscape architecture and designs and builds gardens. Call 206-464-8533 or e-mail thegardendesigner@seattletimes.com with your questions. Sorry, no personal replies.