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what (if any) climber for a small container?

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  • BlueBirderBlueBirder Posts: 212
    A very small clematis might be OK in a pot if you can make it a 30cm one, and if it's deep (45cm+), although you'd need to keep an eye on it!
    You can see patio clematis varieties here https://thorncroftclematis.co.uk/patio-clematis-208-c.asp 

  • https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/341742/lonicera-periclymenum-rhubarb-and-custard/details does anyone know if this would be suitable? I have a trellis near the balcony door where it would climb, but it is shady. I measured the area and i CAN fit a 30 cm pot, and can get one as deep as I  need as that's not a problem.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    That should be OK as the RHS says it's a compact variety, suitable for containers and it will grow in partial shade. Honeysuckle is a woodland plant so it should manage some shade.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • Yes the description makes it sound like it would work! Thanks a lot :-) I'd love honeysuckle fragrance by the balcony door. 
  • mikeymustardmikeymustard Posts: 495
    edited April 2022
    I've got some clematis growing in chimbley pots which can only be 12" diameter (though obviously about 2ft tall), and they're fine, but they do need some "homework":
     pick a suitable plant;
     make sure the pot drains well, and use something like JI no3, or a mix of soil and compost if you have access to soil, with maybe a handful of grit;
     keep them well-watered during growing season - they need way more than you might think.
    And they need lots of food, unlike garden-grown plants.
    So, lots of work but any container-grown plant will probably require much the same love and attention.
    Given the restriction and the possible shade issue, they're probably not gonna reach their full potential, but they might be happy enough, I've seen Montanas growing in small pots reaching several metres, it just depends how welcome you make them!

    Some light reading/watching:

    https://www.learningwithexperts.com/gardening/blog/how-to-grow-clematis-in-containers

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MifuZxFo1eI

    https://www.learningwithexperts.com/gardening/blog/clematis-for-hanging-baskets

    Sorry for the length of the post - ive got a bit of a thing for Raymond Evison's "boulevard" clematis and I got a bit carried  away 🙂
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    I buck the trend I have full size clematis in pots,BUT they do want sun on the tops. I also grow honeysuckle in pots,they will like the clematis,be happy with their root s in the shade,as long as they get a bit of sunon the tops
  • @Nanny Beach me too, in fact, as much as I like Raymond's "Boulevard" series, I do think there's a fair amount of spin and hyperbole attached to them
  • I ended up getting a 35 x 40 (w/h) container, I just managed to fit it in the space available. And waiting for the honeysuckle 'rhubarb and custard' to arrive. 
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