Clematis cultivar advice

puschkinia · April 2023

Hi everyone,

I've got a clematis guernsey cream in a large pot by a north facing wall. It's a shady spot that only gets a couple hours of sun a day but that's open to the sky. The clematis is in its second year now and it's doing terribly - weak growth, eaten to death by snails, and many stems died over winter. I've tried replacing the soil, feeding, etc, but no luck. I'm thinking of replacing it.

It's such a beautiful plant, but I'm thinking of trying a clematis that isn't large-flowered (I'm not keen on most of the large-flowered ones). Ideally one that's white or a subtle blueish-purple, and one that has nice foliage (guernsey cream has such lovely leaves). Does anyone have any advice? I appreciate that it's not the ideal growing conditions, but hopefully there's a good replacement somewhere. I've been searching online but can't find any I like, though imo sometimes some of the clematis - such as guernsey cream! - look far nicer in real life than in marketing photos

Thanks!

Fairygirl · April 2023

They need plenty of moisture, and good conditions, so a pot isn't so good, despite the info saying otherwise, unless it's a really good size IMO. Group 2s want to be fairly big and hearty, so most pots really aren't right unless you're feeding and watering well.

It sounds like the site just isn't right. A wall tends to be much drier, even a north facing one, if the pot's right up against it.

If you want one in a pot - better to try some of the smaller flowering early ones - alpinas etc.

puschkinia · April 2023

Thanks @Fairygirl, ah ok - I was hoping that some were ok for a pot. I'll take a look at alpinas, but I'm not wedded to clematis. Do you have any other climbers you'd suggest instead? Ideally not roses because I've got loads already!

Pete.8 · April 2023

The front of my house faces almost due north.
I used to have a canopy over my front door with a round metal support at one end.
I got a Hagley Hybrid and planted it at the base of the pole in rather poor soil.
It only got sun for a couple of hours first thing in the morning for 2-3 months mid-year. The rest of the time it was totally shaded under the canopy.
It thrived and flowered for months on end year after year.
It was in the ground though and not in a pot.

Fairygirl · April 2023

Apart from annuals like Sweet peas and Ipomoea, the only other climbers I grow are honeysuckles, which also don't thrive in containers.
Some folk may have had success with Group2s in containers, but it's not something I'd ever do. I grow them in purpose built raised beds, but not pots.
You'd need a strong support for them, and a lot of attention which I can't be bothered with. There are other plants I'd use my pots for, like the aforementioned annuals.

Clematis cultivar advice

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