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Climber selection

gardenman91gardenman91 Posts: 429
in Plants
Evening all, I’m wondering if anyone can help me choose a climber will do do well in a narrow border, will grow well in sun and part shade, but won’t grow leggy within two weeks without pruning. Ideally I’d like it to self climb without tying in.

Many thanks 🙂
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Posts

  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    Clematis 😊
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    What support do you have? 

    Climbing and rambling roses and clematis need to be tied in or have a tree to scramble up.  There are hundreds of climbing and rambling roses to choose form - colour, size, perfume, repeat flowering or not .

    Clematis come in thousands of forms and several groups now and will grow anything from 1m high to 10m.   Some groups are not self clinging and different groups have different pruning regimes but can, with care, be encouraged to cover a fence or wall given the proper supports.

    Ivy will self cling up a good wall and there are many forms with different sizes of foliage and colour markings.

    Even a woody wall shrub/climber such as pyracantha needs initial support until the stems thicken and harden and it will need training to shape. 
    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)."
    Plato
  • justflowersjustflowers Posts: 143
    Clematis 'Elizabeth' is fantastic - mine climbs up our pergola without being tied in and flowers profusely - it is in quite a shady spot too.
  • gardenman91gardenman91 Posts: 429
    Well the support will either be a trellis or some old gates that something can climb up. I could go for a group 3 clematis but they’re very vigorous I believe? 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Not all.  There is a website that lists clematis and can be searched on several criteria.  I entered viticella cos they're good doers, group 3 to confirm the easy pruning and 3m for eventual size and got this -

    http://clematisontheweb.org/new-clemlist.cfm

    You could search teh sight with a change of size and add a specific colour if you wanted.
    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)."
    Plato
  • gardenman91gardenman91 Posts: 429
    Wow thank you @Obelixx. Much appreciated! On a side note how did you become so knowledgeable?? :smile:
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    edited January 2021
    Watching GW for decades from when it was Geoff H in charge to resent day.   There are also clematis specialists on here, both professional growers and keen amateurs who exchange info.

    Found an excellent clematis nursery in Belgium where I had a garden for almost 30 years and lots of clematis to try in different aspects and situations.   In this garden I need to experiment to see which can cope with a very different climate and soil so still plenty to learn.  
    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)."
    Plato
  • gardenman91gardenman91 Posts: 429
    edited January 2021
    Obelixx said:
    Not all.  There is a website that lists clematis and can be searched on several criteria.  I entered viticella cos they're good doers, group 3 to confirm the easy pruning and 3m for eventual size and got this -

    http://clematisontheweb.org/new-clemlist.cfm

    You could search teh sight with a change of size and add a specific colour if you wanted.
    Sadly the website link doesn’t work ☹️ However I shall keep on searching! 🙂
  • Desi_in_LondonDesi_in_London Posts: 731
    @margaret005 ... I happened to look at your query ( well more @Obelixx answer linking the site ) last night -- clicking the link didn't work , but googling for clematisontheweb org did from where I guess you can probably do the filtering that @Obelixx referred to?
    Kindness is always the right choice.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    http://clematisontheweb.org/new-clemlistsearch.cfm 

    It's an academic website so not selling any plants.  When you find the ones you might like to grow you can then go and see what's on offer at your local nursery or plant centre.
    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)."
    Plato
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