That's interesting about the double flowers Richard. The only doubles I grew were Purpurea Plena which has small flowers anyway and is a group 3 plus Crystal Fountain which did produce doubles but never really got on with the cold, wet winters so never thrived.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I gave up with the Duchess. She produced lots of foliage but never a lot of flowers here. Probably my fault in some way though. Any Group 2s I've had have rarely produced a second flush. Miss Bateman, which I have just now, has produced a few tiny ones this year. I can only assume that it's down to my conditions here - late to flower the first time in late spring/early summer, and running out of time for a second lot perhaps.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
She is a bit of a diva, FG. Mine started well and peaked after about 3 years but is now a shadow of her former self. The the soil in that border is in dire need of improvement though so it may just be that I haven't fed it well enough.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
Thanks for your advice everyone, I thought I had read that you can treat them as group 3 if you don't mind losing the early flowers. I think I will do that next year to try to encourage new growth from the base, a case of cruel to be kind. There is a Montana on another post so the roof of the pergola is covered and I want these 2 to clothe the posts rather than be too tall. If all else fails I will have to start again.
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Any Group 2s I've had have rarely produced a second flush. Miss Bateman, which I have just now, has produced a few tiny ones this year. I can only assume that it's down to my conditions here - late to flower the first time in late spring/early summer, and running out of time for a second lot perhaps.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
No time for divas - inside or outside
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...