OBEREK is another superb member of the Viticella Group of Clematis, seen here on our 6 ft fence in Summer. Another plus with Oberek is that it produces many seeds.
@Richard Hodson They are beautiful. Is there trellis on the obelisks or is tying it just to the frame enough to hold it? Sadly I garden on heavy clay and have always struggled to grow them. @Plantminded A Clematis Viticella would also be a great choice plenty to choose from with vibrant colours
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Thunbergia are good value "Bang for your buck" plants, I have not grown them for years so thanks for the reminder. Whats not to like about a good five months of flowers.
I wonder if you are going to have a lot of hot colour Heleniums a pale or white climber might make a cool impact.
Although depending on your grasses and placement if they are tall ones a white might get lost.
There are so many wonderful shades of Thunbergia these days.
If your soil is free draining an early flowering clematis from the alpina or macropetala group might work. There are some less vigorous ones around. Six to eight feet might be too big, but you could experiment for a few years to see.
Although any pruning might be problematical?  But as the Thunbergia dies off in winter anyway I think maybe it might work?
You might risk a little damage to the clematis if you pulled off the stems but hopefully as Thunbergia tends to die and is a thin stemmed plant, it would dry and drop or break up pretty quickly. I can't remember what they do its been so long.
And if the Early flowering clematis needs pruning that can be done after flowers but before you put the Thunbergia in.
I guess it would also work with any other tender annual climbers too.Â
I would not be tempted with a winter clematis although they look nice in winter. They often look at their worst around August to September, as they do their I look dead or dying act around then.
Thank you @Rubytoo, you've helped me decide to give Thunbergia another go! I'll also be using one of the Clematis recommended here over an arch in another part of the garden so thanks again for those recommendations!
As you say, Thunbergia are very good value. I removed mine at the weekend after it had been frosted a couple of weeks ago and gone crispy so it was easy to do. I'll be planting Panicum Northwind with the Heleniums, it is tall and compact and a good fresh green, plus winter interest. I've got some clumps of Helenium Sahin's Early Flowerer to divide which will give good colour from June to October if they behave like this year!
I've planted too many things in this border before and it never felt right, so restricting it to two plants, plus the climber should give more impact, we hope!
@Plantminded I am sure we have both mentioned before whar a wonderful plant H Sahin's Early flowerer is the best of the tribe I think. A dark blue shrubby salvia might also work especially with your grass. As you know I also love Panicums a red one could also be considered. Lovely gold leaf tones in Autumn.Â
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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@Plantminded A Clematis Viticella would also be a great choice plenty to choose from with vibrant colours
I wonder if you are going to have a lot of hot colour Heleniums a pale or white climber might make a cool impact.
Although depending on your grasses and placement if they are tall ones a white might get lost.
There are so many wonderful shades of Thunbergia these days.
If your soil is free draining an early flowering clematis from the alpina or macropetala group might work.Â
There are some less vigorous ones around. Six to eight feet might be too big, but you could experiment for a few years to see.
Although any pruning might be problematical? Â
But as the Thunbergia dies off in winter anyway I think maybe it might work?
You might risk a little damage to the clematis if you pulled off the stems but hopefully as Thunbergia tends to die and is a thin stemmed plant, it would dry and drop or break up pretty quickly. I can't remember what they do its been so long.
And if the Early flowering clematis needs pruning that can be done after flowers but before you put the Thunbergia in.
I guess it would also work with any other tender annual climbers too.Â
I would not be tempted with a winter clematis although they look nice in winter.
They often look at their worst around August to September, as they do their I look dead or dying act around then.
As you say, Thunbergia are very good value. I removed mine at the weekend after it had been frosted a couple of weeks ago and gone crispy so it was easy to do. I'll be planting Panicum Northwind with the Heleniums, it is tall and compact and a good fresh green, plus winter interest. I've got some clumps of Helenium Sahin's Early Flowerer to divide which will give good colour from June to October if they behave like this year!
I've planted too many things in this border before and it never felt right, so restricting it to two plants, plus the climber should give more impact, we hope!