Clematis for the Shady Garden
One of the first sun-loving plants I learned to crave when I became a gardener was clematis. As many of my readers know by now, however, very little of my garden gets full sun (in fact, none of it does, although a portion of it gets western sun and that qualifies as far as I can tell). I have grown, loved and photographed many clematis – and will share more of them in a later post. I have a particularly soft spot in my heart, however, for three that have flowered well for me and my clients in shady sites: Clematis ‘Dawn,’ Clematis ‘Silver Moon,’ and Clematis ‘Blue Moon.’
A duo of Clematis 'Silver Moon'
I started with ‘Silver Moon,’ a light-blue colored large-flowered clematis, planting it behind some shrubs next to a fence on the east side of my house. The color was breathtaking, although it probably would fade out in direct sun. It flowered regularly for me for some years, eventually succumbing (I think) to stem breakage once too often during my attempts at a one-person spring cleanup. I have used Silver Moon’s cousin, ‘Blue Moon’ (now apparently known as Clematis ‘Claire de Lune’) on a client’s arbor in serious shade. It took several years to establish but this year is blooming prolifically, benefiting from additional indirect light that now reaches the area because of the loss of a large hickory tree on the other side of the driveway. The early form of the bloom looks like this:
Clematis 'Blue Moon'
Mine has never really taken off, but here’s ‘Blue Moon’ on the client’s arbor this year (some five years after planting): 
After night comes the dawn – Clematis ‘Dawn,’ to be precise. This is my favorite, probably because I love the way it looks as it opens, 
and its almost perfect form as it presents itself fully.
How can you not love this flower?
Singly or in groups, it never disappoints.
A cluster of Clematis 'Dawn'
I must explain that this clematis – which will probably never bloom as prolifically as the Blue Moon clematis on my client’s arbor – represents to me a real triumph. It gets absolutely NO direct sun; I planted it behind a large old pieris in my front yard, against the brick wall of my north-facing house. Its colors are delicate and its shape gorgeous. I should plant it for clients more often. Speaking of planting, if this post has whetted your appetite for any of these clematis, I can recommend an East Coast mail-order nursery that has supplied me with my plants and does a phenomenal job of packing and shipping these delicate treasures, Completely Clematis ( in Massachusetts) . On the West Coast, Chalk Hill Clematis used to sell clematis online but apparently has become primarily a cut-flower supplier. If any of my readers can recommend other trusted online suppliers, I’d love to know about them.
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Garden Shoots 
May 23, 2011 at 5:30 am
Lovely photos and great info – clematis really do just fine with only a little morning sun, but I’m amazed you can grow them with none at all. Hope you’re on the mend and back in action soon 🙂
May 23, 2011 at 7:11 am
Very timely, as usual. Clematis on my mind. These are beautiful!
I have a soft yellow one on a trellis, in almost complete shade which is finely producing lovely blooms. I’m excited to see other choices.
There was a guy from Guernsey Is, off the coast of England who spoke, at a seminar here, about his Clematis Farm where he propagates many many varieties. Apparently many Clematis are suitable for container planting and will over winter, especially some newer varieties, bred for that purpose. I think we need to got o Guernsey and check it out. (-:
Liz Reed
May 23, 2011 at 7:12 am
oops, I meant finally, but i guess finely fits too!
April 25, 2012 at 4:42 pm
I have just purchased a silver moon clematis, I went to my local centre, looking for shade loving plants.( being a novice gardener) this seemed a task that was bewildering and if I’m honest a little disappointing at the plants that are shade loving. Seem mostly green foliage !
While seeking shelter from a rain storm, ended up in the clematis tunnel. While there,i was admiring the beautiful flowers on the information labels . On asking advice, was showen silver moon . I am very excited at seeing these flowers in the garden,even more so after reading your article.
February 28, 2019 at 9:17 am
When do you plant silver moon and how big do they get 1st season?
February 28, 2019 at 9:38 am
You can plant it once the ground is workable. I don’t know how to answer your second question about size the first year there is an old saying about clematis, “The first year it sleeps, the second it creeps, the third it leaps.” Growth will be slow at first but this is a plant that’s worth the wait.
May 22, 2012 at 1:11 am
[…] Clematis for the Shady Garden « Garden ShootsMay 21, 2011 … I have used Silver Moon’s cousin, ‘Blue Moon’ (now apparently known as Clematis ‘Claire de Lune’) on a client’s arbor in serious shade. […]
June 6, 2018 at 9:24 pm
Would the silver moon Clematis grow well in NC?
June 6, 2018 at 10:54 pm
I can’t think of any reason it shouldn’t. Clematis vines are hardy in your area.
January 27, 2020 at 1:21 pm
I have a shady yard with a lot of old magnolia and oak trees blocking sun. I live in South Alabama. Will these shade clematises perform in my region? I’ve always wanted to try them, but I’ve been told not to by local nurseries. Can they take an overnight freeze? Thank you!
January 27, 2020 at 1:53 pm
There’s no reason they shouldn’t do fine in your zone since it’s warmer than mine. If the area you’re trying to grow them in gets very little light I’m not sure they would bloom. Mine were planted on a north facing wall but there was indirect light much of the day.
September 15, 2020 at 8:26 am
Hi there! Im thinking about planting clematis dawn in pots on my covered balcony. The roof overhangs the balcony by at least a foot. I do get some decent sun first thing in the morning. I’m hoping that the clematis will climb through the railing and provide me with some privacy. I was also planning to plant a few in hanging pots with the hopes that those would cascade down , reaching to almost the railing, again providing me with privacy. I’ve read elsewhere that clematis dawn does well in containers. Based on what I’m trying to accomplish (privacy with a balcony that gets part sun) do you think clematis dawn is the right choice? Appreciate your feedback!
-Julie
September 15, 2020 at 10:16 am
Julie, while I’m glad to hear this clematis is good for pots, I’m not sure it will accomplish your screening goal. Clematis aren’t evergreen and after they bloom their dieback can be unsightly (brown leaves, etc.) They also prefer to climb rather than cascade down. Have you thought about some shrubs in pots, like nandina?