Question
I live in Eastern Washington and near as I can tell it's Zone 2 (Sunset Western Gardening Book). Can you give me names of a cold hardy climbing perennial that would be okay in dappled shade. Thanks for the help. Jan

Answer
The coldest it gets in Eastern Washington State is USDA Zone 5 -- which I am more familiar with being an Easterner -- but you have many choices here.

My favorite being Clematis paniculata, a semi-shade loving, ultra-fragrant, rampantly growing perennial that you can plant right now to enjoy this year, picture courtesy of the North Carolina State Extension website:

www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/vines/clematis_paniculata.html

Pretty, isn't it?

Their notes on C paniculata: ' Easy to grow; reseeds; blooms on new growth; can become invasive (from seedlings)'. I would not worry about 'invasive' seedlings in your climate.  Or in mine for that matter (USDA Zone 7).

Here's another photo (can you tell how fond I am of this plant?) at the Bluestone Perennials website:

www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/CLPAP.html

'Vigorous and easy to grow vines, blooms on new wood.  Forms silvery seed heads.  Will grow to a length of 10 to 20 feet.'  (Note they did not use the 'invasive' word.)

Honeysuckle -- Lonicera halliana -- is one of the most fragrant plants you can buy.  It grows and blooms briefly in shaded situations; the more sun, the more flowers.  Its fragrance is what I appreciate so much.  Only perhaps 10 days a year, but on a Summer evening, it is the perfect ending.

There are more brightly colored, long blooming, albeit scentless, Clematis hybrids every year.  They prefer lots of sun, but will bloom in semi-shade with just a little less vigor.  Very easy to grow.  No fuss no muss plants.  These are all hardy to Zone 5.  Any thoughts?

L.I.G.