Good plant for a North facing wall

[Barmaid]

Sorry to overload this section with questions, but I have got the gardening bug after today's gorgeous weather.

I have a garage wall facing the back of my house in my small sheltered courtyard garden. That border gets very little sun and is a bit damp and dark and generally depressing - I think the wall faces North. Could anyone suggest some climbing plants that I can grow to cover the expanse of brick, please? I would prefer a flowering plant (or plants) if at all possible, but appreciate that options are limited given the situation. The quicker growing the plant, the better!

[shylock73]

Virginia Creeper

[midagetrolop]

Believe it or not, I have a wisterias growing on a north facing wall at the bottom of my garden, once it started flowering it flowers very profusely every year. I have another on a south facing wall, which has been in nearly as long and has only flowered once. I was told by a good gardener, when i asked why this was, he said it was because wisterias get too hot on a south facing wall and prefer it cooler - well mine has certainly proved this. A clematis montana - grows quickly, or the clematis alpina ( lovely flowers) . Keep away from ivies and passion flowers.

[Whoever]

A yellow leaved variegated ivy would grow very quickly, brighten up your dark area and cover the garage wall very quickly. . Whilst it doesn't have much in the way of flowers, it does produce some in winter followed by lots of berries which are much loved by the birds so you would be doing something worthwhile environmentally in your garden as well. Also ivies are very hardy plants and seem to thrive in almost any conditions. Good garden centres will have lots of different varieties to chose from - some with big leaves and some with small ones of different shapes.

[tinpotLizzie]

Hydrangea Petrolaris (the climbing hydrangea) is evergreen & fantastic on a shady wall.
It does nothing to harm the mortar & just sticks itself to the facework with a little encouragement from some canes to guide it. Takes a little time to stick itself but well worth the wait as you also get lovely white panicles of flower as it matures.