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Climber for Obelisk Recommendation 🪜

PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
in Plants
I'm looking for a climber for the metal obelisk shown below, which I'm planning to plant in spring. The obelisk is about six feet tall and 2 feet wide at the base. It's in a fairly sheltered position which gets full sun all day, on sandy soil which I have improved over the last two years with bought compost blends and organic matter. I have previously grown a climbing rose which suffered from black spot, sweet peas that found it too hot, and last year I grew Thunbergia which I have only just removed after an excellent, long, trouble free flowering period. I like Clematis but think this location might be too hot for the root area. I'm happy to grow Thunbergia again but would welcome any other thoughts and recommendations, plus photos if you have them please. I don't mind if it's an annual, perennial, or climbing shrub as long as it flowers for as long as possible 😎! I'm not keen on pastel shades. I'll be replanting the whole border with Heleniums and grasses, so don't worry about what you can see there. Thank you.


Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


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Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    If you like clematis, you could plant it on the shady side or in the middle.
    By the time it starts to get hot the roots will mostly be shaded by the leaves and probably leaves from other plants too.

    I'm not sure how much truth there is in the belief that clematis like a cool root run, so long as they have access to sufficient moisture I think they'd be fine.
    I had a Rebecca in a south facing pot for about 10 years, it was fine.
    Also had Hagley Hybrid on a west facing fence that was very hot and dry at the base- that was fine too.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    That’s very helpful @Pete.8, thank you.  I like the look of Rebecca which will go well with the Heleniums (early flowering ones!)
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited December 2023
    @Plantminded I've used Obelisks in the garden without any plants growing up them. Yours is lovely the rustic look works well with so many different flower colours and I think it is the more vibrant colours that work well too. I cannot help with clematis they hated the clay in my old garden.
    I did have a straight sided 6ft obelisk with Sanguisorba Cangshan Cranberry growing up through the middle, in flower it reached the top. You could use your as  a stake for a tall Helenium or a plant that flops for a change.

    The climbing Annual Black Eyed Susan in shades of Orange or Red would be my first choice and I am not suprised you have used it in the past.
    A friend with free draining soil grew Ipomoea Lobata but this may grow too quickly.
    Some climbers just don't want to climb an Obelisk and I do think choices are limited.

    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Thank you very much @GardenerSuze, more options to think about. I’ve previously banned floppy plants from my garden, but this could be a consideration!  The Sanguisorba is a nice idea, would it reach a good height in one season?
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Plantminded S Cangshan Cranberry would make 5/6ft in one season in my old garden.
    The problem that you may have is yours is more of a wigwam shape, not sure? I just wanted to think of a different approach rather than a climber. This idea would probably work better with a straight sided Obelisk?
    I have also put Obelisks in pots but yours is too big I think to do that.

    Trying to find the right shaped Obelisk to fit a pot isn't that easy as I have found out in the past. Always best to buy the two together if that is the plan. Obelisks are great and a group of cane wigwams  create height and drama too.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    I think I’m going to go for another Thunbergia @GardenerSuze as it gave such a good show this year.  I’ll try a different colour and grow from seed, I’ve just been looking at a few online. The obelisk has the only position in my garden that gets full sun all day so I need something worthy of such a privileged position!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    I was thinking of a group 3 Viticella clematis too. I have Kermesina growing on a fence in my garden in Dordogne, SW France. So long as it's watered it's fine, it has managed 35C.
    Richard Hodson is a clematis expert.


    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Nice to see you @Richard Hodson
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    edited December 2023
    Thank you @Richard Hodson and @Busy-Lizzie. I like the look of C. Solina and am familiar with the Viticella varieties as they are the only ones that have thrived in my garden. It looks as if I’m going to have more than one climber to accommodate now!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


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