They say miniature ivy cultivars are not invasive. They are slower growing. But Botann says they may revert to English Ivy.

Euonymus fortunei is, I've heard, the only other evergreen that will grow up concrete walls. I've planted some Kewensis and it is much slower than the miniature ivies I have planted. After 2 years 7 months the Euonymus fortunei Kewensis is starting to grow up the MANY cottage stone retaining walls and become visible. Very pretty. Slow to establish but worth it.

I have vinca minor and creeping jenny cascading down concrete walls with the ivies competing to grow up. Also have labrador violets going bonkers and seeding and sprouting everywhere, very pretty. Had a lot of little ground covers which have mostly died. The ivy is tough and resilient and can handle the slugs, squirrels, and thousands of birds.

Have tried several cultivars of miniature ivies and really love them all. They do well in shade, sun, moist and dry areas, but seem to prefer ample water. I will be planting many more varieties. Some have spectacular color variations and interesting shapes.

The vinca minor is ridiculously aggressive and invasive but easy to snip and control with pruning. Have some variegated which are nice. Flowers periwinkle and deep violet which exactly matches our house trim.

If you thought the ivy was too much maybe Euonymus fortunei 'Kewensis' would appeal. Small-leaved ivy cultivars vary in vigor and habit but they are all ivy. The common weedy big-leaved ivy sold as English ivy is actually Irish ivy, with larger parts than English and intermediate between that and another species. English ivy and certain cultivars are also weeds here and should not be planted.

Vinca also grows wild, although most patches of that seen here may be left over from plantings rather than having arisen from seed - unlike ivy which is spread by birds into the woods in and near towns and cities, where it eventually covers large areas.

Vinca is very aggressive and long-lived but I don't believe it reseeds. It does spread by runners which are very difficult to control, and I've seen it persist where the house it belonged to is long gone. But it does not seem to reseed like the ivy does, and it doesn't climb trees and buildings like the ivy does.

Not much replaces ivy, which is why people keep planting it. The euonymus fortunei is probably the closest thing, but it can get very large and aggressive too with time.

Does it need to climb up the wall, or could it hang down from the top? Or perhaps something narrow and upright growing alongside the wall. Creeping rosemary is a very nice evergreen shrublet, although I'm not sure how it will like a north exposure, it likes dry soil but also sun. It looks very nice hanging down retaining walls. Sasanqua camellias can be trained along a wall, and they like part shade, although they need some water.