@CDouch ..that's a lovely looking pergola. I have some suggestions and advice for you which I'll post shortly..
@Alfie_ ..thanks.. the rose is a climbing floribunda called 'Armada', it's a Harkness rose actually, I'm not sure if they still sell it... the clematis is 'Niobe', and the Geranium at the bottom is called 'Patricia'.. You will get some effect like this in the first season, but you're looking at 3 years to get the full works I should say.. I've had that for some years now.. You could use any combination, for e.g. you could put a Gertrude Jekyll rose with a reddish clematis.. or a purple one.. there are lots to choose from.. the rose gets planted on one side of the obelisk, and the clematis around the corner on another side.. then train them up. What you don't want are over vigorous climbing roses, or massively vigorous clematis, it's important to choose according to your support structure..
Hi @CDouch I don't grow climbers in pots for more than a year or two before planting into the ground. Strawberry Hill is pictured in a pot on the David Austin site. Blush Noisette might suit too. I think some sellers do have a patio climber filter so have a look for that. I just looked you can choose suitable for a pot and select type as climber on Peter Beales site. See what you fancy and maybe ask on here again if someone has grown it.
If you intend moving the pergola anyway could you move it to near the lawn edge, or you could grow the rose up a pole or half arch connecting to the pergola. Planting in the ground would be so much easier and the choice will become huge.
It's a pity the builders did not leave a small area of planting around each post, it would save you so much trouble and bother now and in the future... just a foot square would have been sufficient.. but as it is.. I would suggest you keep it as simple as possible.. 1. Forget about any idea you might have of training over the top of your pergola, it's far too ambitious for potted plants, and secondly they will drop leaves over your furniture, and insects gather on them, and I can assure you if you're sitting underneath, you will come away with aphids in your hair and other creepies.. they have a tendency to drop on you... really, you don't want it..
2. Concentrate your efforts on growing up the posts only.. If you are able to supply 2 pots for the front posts, which should match, and be 60cm x 60cm square if possible, you can then grow the same rose in each pot either side to co-ordinate. You could use different ones, but I always think co-ordination is better.. but personal choice on that.
There is one rose in particular I will recommend to you as it's simply ideal for this purpose, it's called 'Mary Delaney' and is sold by David Austin roses.. the reason I recommend is that, it's not a true climbing rose, therefore suitable for pot culture, will manage 8 feet or so, has beautiful double pink scented flowers all summer, from top to bottom, lovely large foliage, healthy and robust.. two other important points, it's virtually thornless which makes training easy, and given an upright support like that, it can be trained to go bolt upright against it.. I've done it on an obelisk..
Once it reaches top of the post, it may be possible to train a little along the horizontal to create an arch effect, but you shouldn't expect this from a pot..
I lost most of my photos, so only have one showing the top of the rose.. You can see how upright it is and I can assure it flowers all the way down..
.. if you want to venture further with pots for your back 2 posts.. you do realise all these will take up time and effort throughout the season with watering and feeding..
.. If you want a clematis I can show you some photos of various ones which will suit the purpose, but also you should consider the evergreen Trachelospermum jasminoides.. take no notice if anyone tells you not to grow it in a pot.. it works if the pot is large enough, like half barrel size.. it has a lovely scent with a long flowering season, and will twine itself around your posts with some help..
..if you want clematis.. here are some of mine, all suitable for large pot culture..
'Niobe'.. 'Star of India'..
'Valour'.. 'Margaret Hunt' and 'Princess Diana'.. .. or if you want a good bluey/purple.. 'The Vagabond' has a very long season..
...choose what you like, and don't be put off.. it's all in the name of experimentation.. I do it all the time, or used to when I was fitter. Happy choosing.. !
For training clematis up posts, you could just tie them back with string, but to assist, I've used this before, cut to shape and fixed around the posts all the way up. As it's brown you'll hardly notice it..
Thank you so much @Marlorena for taking the time to reply. Mary Delaney looks perfect, I like the idea of it being fairly thornless and I’m glad you mentioned about creepy crawlies dropping on your head, I hadn’t thought about that 😬 Lots to think about now so quite exciting, I love a project.
Thanks again @Marlorena I’ve just seen your post and photos of your clematis, stunning. Yes I definitely want clematis as well, I’ve got Star of India in another part of my garden which is beautiful. What a dilemma, so much choice, but what a lovely dilemma to have. Luckily I do have time for all the feeding and watering, it’s a job I love doing on a summer’s evening. I’d better get planning and hopefully I’ll be posting a nice photo one day!
Thanks @Tack yes I’d seen Strawberry Hill in a pot on David Austen’s website too and was considering it. Well I’m a lot further forward than I was earlier in the day, next thing will be to choose some big pots!
Posts
..that's a lovely looking pergola. I have some suggestions and advice for you which I'll post shortly..
@Alfie_
..thanks.. the rose is a climbing floribunda called 'Armada', it's a Harkness rose actually, I'm not sure if they still sell it... the clematis is 'Niobe', and the Geranium at the bottom is called 'Patricia'..
You will get some effect like this in the first season, but you're looking at 3 years to get the full works I should say.. I've had that for some years now..
You could use any combination, for e.g. you could put a Gertrude Jekyll rose with a reddish clematis.. or a purple one.. there are lots to choose from.. the rose gets planted on one side of the obelisk, and the clematis around the corner on another side.. then train them up. What you don't want are over vigorous climbing roses, or massively vigorous clematis, it's important to choose according to your support structure..
Hello... I have just the thing for you..
It's a pity the builders did not leave a small area of planting around each post, it would save you so much trouble and bother now and in the future... just a foot square would have been sufficient.. but as it is..
I would suggest you keep it as simple as possible..
1. Forget about any idea you might have of training over the top of your pergola, it's far too ambitious for potted plants, and secondly they will drop leaves over your furniture, and insects gather on them, and I can assure you if you're sitting underneath, you will come away with aphids in your hair and other creepies.. they have a tendency to drop on you... really, you don't want it..
2. Concentrate your efforts on growing up the posts only.. If you are able to supply 2 pots for the front posts, which should match, and be 60cm x 60cm square if possible, you can then grow the same rose in each pot either side to co-ordinate. You could use different ones, but I always think co-ordination is better.. but personal choice on that.
There is one rose in particular I will recommend to you as it's simply ideal for this purpose, it's called 'Mary Delaney' and is sold by David Austin roses.. the reason I recommend is that, it's not a true climbing rose, therefore suitable for pot culture, will manage 8 feet or so, has beautiful double pink scented flowers all summer, from top to bottom, lovely large foliage, healthy and robust.. two other important points, it's virtually thornless which makes training easy, and given an upright support like that, it can be trained to go bolt upright against it.. I've done it on an obelisk..
Once it reaches top of the post, it may be possible to train a little along the horizontal to create an arch effect, but you shouldn't expect this from a pot..
I lost most of my photos, so only have one showing the top of the rose..
You can see how upright it is and I can assure it flowers all the way down..
.. If you want a clematis I can show you some photos of various ones which will suit the purpose, but also you should consider the evergreen Trachelospermum jasminoides.. take no notice if anyone tells you not to grow it in a pot.. it works if the pot is large enough, like half barrel size.. it has a lovely scent with a long flowering season, and will twine itself around your posts with some help..
..if you want clematis.. here are some of mine, all suitable for large pot culture..
'Niobe'..
'Star of India'..
'Valour'..
'Margaret Hunt' and 'Princess Diana'..
.. or if you want a good bluey/purple.. 'The Vagabond' has a very long season..
...choose what you like, and don't be put off.. it's all in the name of experimentation..
I do it all the time, or used to when I was fitter.
Happy choosing.. !
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Climbing-Support-Plastic-Clematis-Trellis/dp/B01GEOMBLG
..that's ok, and best of luck with your endeavours there..
@Tack
I've just noticed your post, I was going to recommend 'Strawberry Hill' as an alternative..
Your posy of flowers was well worth the pruning..
@WhereAreMySecateurs
.. do you get the peppery scent from Adam Messerich?.. I though it was rather nice..