Which Clematis to plant?

Papi Jo · March 2022

I want to replace a deceased honeysuckle with a Clematis. Currently I have: Clematis ‘Early Sensation’, C. ‘Guernsey Cream’, C. ‘Jackmanii’, C. ‘Samaritan Jo’ and C. 'Saphyra Double Rose'.

It will be growing up a lattice 2 metres high and 2 metres wide, so am looking for a Clematis which would eventually grow up to 2 to 2.5 m. and cover at least 1m. wide.

Aspect S. West; dappled shade, soil originally heavy clay but has been regularly improved.

Will be located between the C. 'Saphyra Double Rose' and a thriving Aconitum napellus specimen. Flowering period: May or June to September. Colour white or light pink.

I do not want a C. montana (too vigorous) not C. armandii (too vigorous and I have 2 of those die on me in the past so they're banned from the garden now.)

Taking into consideration all these parameters plus availability, I have reduced my current choice to 2 clematis, but am open to other suggestions.

C. alpina Albina Plena
C. Maria Skłodowska Curie

I'd like to hear from fellow forum members who actually grow these 2 Clematis in their garden, or who can suggest other varieties, taking into account my wishes.

Looking forward...

Papi Jo · March 2022

...

Obelixx · March 2022

I don't know either of those two @Papi Jo tho I do like alpinas and plan to try them here. Too cold for them in my Belgian garden.

I can recommend Etoile Rose for its lovely flowers and long flowering period - https://clematisontheweb.org/new-clemdetail.cfm?dbkey=526 or Hagelby Pink if you want something paler - https://clematisontheweb.org/new-clemdetail.cfm?dbkey=3206 and there is a white version - https://clematisontheweb.org/new-clemdetail.cfm?dbkey=634

Plantminded · March 2022

Have you considered any of the Viticellas @Papi Jo? I grow a purple variety in dappled shade called Etoile Violette but there are pink and white varieties too. It's the only Clematis I've had any success with! It has a long flowering period, I grow it over an arch, just over 2 meters high and a meter wide. Taylors have a wide range: Clematis viticella - Taylors clematis Hope this helps.

Fairygirl · March 2022

I grow alpinas, and have a couple of them. I have one of the whites, but not the one you mention. I think you'd be fine with that one though. I've only had mine a short while. It's just coming into growth now.
The other one I have [Constance] is about to flower. It covers a space of about 2 metres wide and about the same in height, but I have to train stems in because the fence I have it on isn't quite that height.

Fairygirl · March 2022

I came across the label for my white one when looking for seeds, and it is C. Albina Plena. D'oh! I don't think I have any photos of it in flower, but it's very pretty. They prefer better draining soil to the larger flowered types. I grow all my alpinas and macropetalas in raised beds and up against the fences or walls to keep them a bit drier.

There are loads of clems which would suit, depending on the colours and timing you're after though. Many of the Group 2s and 3s would be fine.

mikeymustard · March 2022

Maria Curie is quite a new variety so I don't suppose many have experienced it yet.
All the atragenes are lovely but while it's heartening at this time of year to have blooms, in a small garden like mine I feel a bit cheated by a non- flowering space the rest of the year 🙂
You might want to look at Mandy and Liberty, though i guess you've already gone through the agonising choosing process once

Fairygirl · March 2022

If you grow a Group 2 alongside your early, small flowered types @muckyhandsmike , they can work well together. I have a white Group2 [Miss Bateman] near a macropetala [Lemon Dream] and they flower at the same time for a while, then Miss. B carries on. The new growth on Miss B is quite different from the macro, so if you need to prune, it's not difficult to tell them apart either.

They both have other planting around them to have some other flowering later too.

Papi Jo · March 2022

Thanks again for the recent comments!

@mikeymustard I've looked at Mandy and Liberty, yes, long-flowering, but colour too similar to the ones I already have, especially too similar to C. 'Saphyra Double Rose' which will be almost its neighbour.

Taking into consideration the flowering duration factor, I have come across C. jackmanii Forever Friends (Zofofri). Seems to fit the bill in general. Anyone knows it?

Fran IOM · March 2022

@Papi Jo I have Jackmannii (Blue Flower) which actually came from Poundland a few years ago and is somewhat similar. I wouldn't consider it to be a blue flower but more mauve or purple in my opinion. It just went on flowering.

This was it last year.

Fairygirl · March 2022

I've got it @Papi Jo and it's been a huge disappointment. Supposed to be fine in some shade, so I put it in what should have been a good spot. Wasn't really thriving, so I decided it might be better in another site with a little more sun available. I lifted it last year and re potted it until I could find a better place for it. Let's just say - I'm still waiting for it to grow....

You might be more fortunate though.

Which Clematis to plant?

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