Clematis Suggestions for Dry Clay

Blue Onion · May 2018

All of your conversations have caused me clematis envy. I want some. What are your recommendations for drought tolerant clay lovers? Zone 5. Something thuggish, common, and easy.. I have a large yard, so could plant it full sun to shade, depending on it's preference.

Dovefromabove · May 2018

Oh dear ... they definitely don't like dry and they're not happy on unimproved clay.
Can you get lots and lots of well rotted manure and other organic stuff, leaf mould and the like, to dig in and really improve the area so that it drains well but doesn't dry out (if you know what I mean).

Fairygirl · May 2018

As Dove says - clay is great for them but it needs loads of bulky material to improve drainage [open up the soil] and also retain moisture in dry spells.
Some of the early types like slightly drier conditions, but wet clay in winter isn't good for them.

Richard Hodson · May 2018

Blue Onion, I see that you are from USA. There are many native species from places like Texas, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, where clematis viorna, texensis, crispa, pitcheri, badwinii, addisonii, fremontii, and many others originate. These species and hybrids from them are much coveted by the rest of the world. Are none of your conditions similar to any of these ?

Blue Onion · May 2018

Dove - I can do that, and will happily water for a year to establish the plant. I will plant it where it will get water from our sprinkler system.. but I want some that are fine with a bit of dry. I currently have one unhappy unnamed clematis from the GC that has survived for four years.. but is very unhappy and dies back to crispy brown in the heat of the summer.. then regrows each spring to bloom for a month. Wrong plant in the wrong location, doing the best it can (sounds like the start to a musical..).

Fairygirl - no wet clay in winter.. lots of snow and artic temperatures.. but it's dry. I actually water my trees and special plants in winter if the ground isn't frozen as the dry air sucks the moisture from the soil. The only time it gets wet is in the spring with the rains.. and it's never a UK wet.

Richard - it gets to -28C here in the winter, and a dry 40C in the summer.. the varieties you recommended look lovely (I really like the crispa).. but originate in warmer climates and won't last the winter here.

I grow a wide variety of perennial flowers, from yarrow to dalphiniums, daffodils to day lilies, penstemon to coreopsis, and so on. I just want a clematis that is okay with a bit of dry and will thrive without too much attention.. which may be impossible.

Richard Hodson · May 2018

Plenty of people in Canada grow the Atragene Group successfully

Blue Onion · May 2018

Thanks Richard.. some of those look quite promising. Now.. if I can only find some for a reasonable price..

Marlorena · May 2018

I think you'll find that in your zone the newish clematis 'Sweet Summer Love' is proving popular, and is hardy to at least zone 4.. sweetly scented of almond and vanilla..
Prune to the ground in Spring, like a group 3...

From what I gather it's not fussy as to conditions, but takes a year or two to settle down into flowering rhythm...

Richard Hodson · May 2018

Blue Onion....grow some from seed, easy, then if you lose them it's no big loss.

Can anyone explain why my previous answer is posted twice, and how do I delete one of them ?

Fire · May 2018

I believe Richard holds the UK National Collection of Clematis Viticella.

Blue Onion · May 2018

Wow.. pretty impressive Richard.. congratulations!

Thanks everyone one for your advice, I'll give an update later once I have one or three growing.

Clematis Suggestions for Dry Clay

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