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Climber suggestions

Magical MeerkatMagical Meerkat Posts: 311
in Plants
Hi,

I used to have a passionflower on this fence and wall, but this winter was too harsh and today i cut it back because all the twining growth was dead. The stump is slightly green but i think im going to use this opportunity to put something new in its place. Something hopefully less hassle. I was forever trimming it back, became it wanted to smother thr whole garden!

So can anyone recommend a climber, which might like this space. I'm in South Dorset, so very mild normally. Soil is dry free draining sand. The fence faces East, the wall is south. It would be planted on the fence section. There are strong wires attached. Plant has to be wildlife friendly and I don't like pink flowers  hahaha. Sorry. 

The picture has flattened a little, but there is plenty of room behind the fern.

 The area is partially shadey at times but the fences and wall get baked from the sun. So the area is very warm and soil drys out quickly.  

Hopefully thats enough info. 

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I don't like pink flowers either - pale pink anyway  ;)
    I love clematis, and you should be able to get one for that spot - possibly two if you use the wall as well, depending on the space you have. The early, small flowered ones like poorer conditions - alpinas, macropetalas, koreanas etc. The flowers are very attractive to pollinators, and they have great seedheads afterwards. I sometimes get ladybirds using clematis to hide and overwinter in too.
    Most of them can take shady aspects too, so the site isn't a problem. They flower on the existing framework, so you can train the in as they grow to get good coverage, but they can also take a good cut back if they get a bit above themselves  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Magical MeerkatMagical Meerkat Posts: 311
    Thanks  Fairygirl. I was thinking a Clematis and had looked at a Alpina and sounds like it might fit the bill. It was a lovely dark purple. No pale pink.  :D. 
    Sadly there is a concrete path that runs along the wall under the soil. Only a few inches of soil. So left it for wildflowers and ferns. So can't put 2 clematis, but hopefully 1 will be enough for me to train around thr corner like I did with the passionflower. 

    Sounds like a trip to a garden centre is in order. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I have C. alp. Constance, which is technically pink, but it's quite a dark, slightly violet pink.
    It's very vigorous. I planted mine about 8 or 9 years ago, and it's in a very tiny, narrow raised bed - never been fed or watered since planting, and I also cut it right back several years ago to paint the fence and put the trellis on battens to stop the large snails hiding in there so easily. It was back to the same size the following year.
    It covers a fence about the size of yours, and I could easily train it further if I wanted, but it's next to my gate, and I have other clematis in the bed next to it, so I keep it fairly well under control. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    In my experience you're likely to get a far wider choice (and often a better grown plant) from one of the Clematis specialists that sell online ... 

    https://www.hawthornes-nursery.co.uk and https://www.taylorsclematis.co.uk have never disappointed me

     :D 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Magical MeerkatMagical Meerkat Posts: 311
    Thanks both. I did wonder about the range being better online. I have my eye on clematis alpina helsingborg. Has anyone seen it in real life? 


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I quite liked that one, but I've bought too much stuff recently.  :s
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Magical MeerkatMagical Meerkat Posts: 311
    I know that feeling, I bought lots of mulch yesterday and my partner said... think how much you've spent on compost and mulch over the years.... I said. Uhmm yes let's not think about that  :D because we know it will be a lot higher on thr plants.  ;)
  • Magical MeerkatMagical Meerkat Posts: 311
    Hi. I wanted to update you that I bought that Clematis. It came in excellent condition from Taylors. I've only watered it a couple of times and we've been in a drought since April. It's looking very healthy and it's treated me to a little flower already.  Slightly paler than i was expecting. But its beautiful and dainty and goes with my campanula thats in front of it. 

    I also had a seedling pop up from the passionflower. So ive moved that to a very dry sunny fence and will see if that survives. 

    Hooorahhh
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