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Clematis growing up a Magnolia Stellata

JAC51JAC51 Posts: 175
in Problem solving
Hi would appreciate any advice.  I have a Magnolia Stellata in full flower at the moment which looks lovely.  I was wondering whether I could plant a group 3 clematis to grow up it. Would the clematis grow through the leaves to flower so I could see them?  Or do you think it would flower within the magnolia so not much point in growing it there if I couldn’t see the flowers?
Many thanks

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    edited March 2023
    Any climbing plant uses its support - trellis, wires, another plant - to get to the light so the flowers would not lurk inside.

    Your main concern needs to selecting a clematis that will not swamp your magnolia and cut the light to its leaves so it too can thrive.  A group 3 is good as it will be cut down every year as they flower on new season's growth.  Normally this would be done in late winter/early spring but that's when your magnolia will be thinking about opening its buds so you'd need to cut back the clematis is late autumn and then mulch it to protect the crown.

    I'd suggest an alba luxurians or its lilac version caerulea luxurians or a Betty Corning but you can find many more using this website and entering 2.5 to 3 metres in the height box and 3 in the pruning group box:
    https://clematisontheweb.org/new-clemlistsearch.cfm  
    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
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Christopher Lloyd grew type 3 Clematis x triternata rubromarginata over his mahonias. By later summer the mahonias were basically covered by a mass of flowers. (I managed to find a photo below). Definitely viable, but I guess you want a fairly vigorous variety but one that isn't too 'heavy'; the x triternata rubromarginata seems to do the trick! Clematis 'Sweet Summer Love' might be worth a shot too. As you know, you cut the clematis down in winter so it will not interfere with the magnolia flowering.


    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    You'd need to be careful when pruning the clematis in early spring and particularly when pulling off the old dead growth. It would be very easy to damage the magnolia buds.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    ... As Obelixx says you can prune a type 3 in winter.... I do mine before Xmas.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • JAC51JAC51 Posts: 175
    @Obelixx @Loxley @Jennylr thank you all for your comments. I’ll Google your suggestions and go for a 3m group 3 and see what happens. If it looks glorious I’ll deffo post a picture. Thanks as always
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