Here is a link for clematis for shady walls.

Here is a link that might be useful: chalk hill nursery list for shady areas

Thanks so much for the link. I fell in love with Asao and Bees Jubilee. The person i'm buying from has both of those, so I'm gonna add onto my order.

Melissa

A couple of thoughts: if you're putting them directly up your wall, and it faces directly north, then it won't get 3 hours of sun. I'm in a similar situation, and the clematis I grow on the (due) north wall get a little vague sun in the early morning, then late afternoon, but it isn't much. Also, don't plant them directly against your house under the overhang where they won't get rain (learned that mistake the hard way).

You said you wanted to avoid reds and purples, but the ones you purchased (Niobe, et al.) are versions of red and purple, but Asao/BJ are pink. No clematis will perform very well in the light conditions you and I have on our north walls, so I might go with a more floriferous type.

The pinks or blue-purples (not quite true blues) that match your criteria would include Mrs. T. Lundell, Comtesse du Buchaud, Margot Koster, Emilia Plater, Prince Charles, Little Nell, Hagley Hybrid. I grow a number of these in shade and they perform adequately.

Michelle in Chicago;
I want to try to stay away from the reds/purples because I have just ordered 2 reds and 2 purples. I don't want too many of the same thing.

The front might not be true north, it does get a few hours direct light in the morning as the sun rises and that's it. The eave thing will be a problem. My eaves are very extanded. I might still get those 2 pinks and put them on the side of my house that gets 4-5 hours direct sun. I'll just have to come up with something else for the front down the road.

thanks
Melissa

Melissa, I love your new fence.
Kay

I use The President & H. F. Young on a trellis on North side w/no direct sun and they do well. However, they are purple/blue.
Use Alabast (white)in another area against a wall w/minimal sun.
Marlene

Thanks organic kitten. I love my new fence too. I have been ripping up the sod starting in the front the last 2 weeks. Most of my yard is part-sun to dappled shade. This full sun spot is heaven to me.

melissa