The vitcella group ae smaller flowering, but do so profusely. I use them in all sorts of places, and they are not susceptible to wilt - it seems to be the large flowered hybrids that get this. For spring (whatever that may be), the montana group are good if you have space for them, as they do get very large aned heay - gorgeous though. You can grow vitcellas through them when they have stopped flowering themselves, looks good. If you really want the large flowering clematis (and I still try with them) you need to plant them very deep indeed, then if wilt strikes they will often shoot again from the part that is underground - worth trying.
The non-climbing herbaceous clematis are good too, in pots, hanging baskets or just clambering around other things in a flower bed - mostly purples yet, but there will come more colours I am sure.
Bought a 'red' clematis this year, it isn't, it is very lovely but definitely purple, although the label shows a clear red - thought it unlikely at the time.
thanks for the advice. i think that when my two large-flowered clematis finally give up the ghost (and i do spend so much time and effort keeping them going!), i will try a viticella. i have a montana rubens, which i love, but even that is hammered by snails, slugs and earwigs. it seems to be doing a bit better this year, since i've been so vigilant! i'll try it with a viticella, will give the bugs some choice, and they might be a little distracted from the montana.
i bought an evergreen clematis - "early sensation", and it's supposed to be hardy. does anyone know how hardy they are? it's in a large pot, so would it be better to bring it in over winter?
rouge cardinal is almost red - i think it has a touch of pink. it's also later flowering, and the only one of my clematis that is fairly robust.
My Miss Bateman has now got 3 lovely big blooms on it , admittedly they've all got small holes in which is probably due to the earwigs, that you all warned me about. This is it's fiirst year and I hope that as it gets taller, the flowers will be not so vunerable. They are only about 5inches from the ground. So looking forward to next year.
@diggingdoris, Miss Bateman gave us 3 blooms the year we bought her and about 12 the following year. This year, there were about 40, half of which were eaten by the earwigs!
Thanks wintersong, that's good news. Each morning I go and look at the flowers and notice the petals are getting more lacy, but never mind there will be better results next year it seems. Nevertheless, the memories of my Nan flood back each time I look at this, as she was a Miss Bateman before she married Grandad.
Yes Lilyfan, my 'red' clematis is Rebecca, I bought it from the breeder, which made it partiularly disappointing. It is gorgeous, but real red it is not. Maybe I should mention it to them?
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The vitcella group ae smaller flowering, but do so profusely. I use them in all sorts of places, and they are not susceptible to wilt - it seems to be the large flowered hybrids that get this. For spring (whatever that may be), the montana group are good if you have space for them, as they do get very large aned heay - gorgeous though. You can grow vitcellas through them when they have stopped flowering themselves, looks good. If you really want the large flowering clematis (and I still try with them) you need to plant them very deep indeed, then if wilt strikes they will often shoot again from the part that is underground - worth trying.
The non-climbing herbaceous clematis are good too, in pots, hanging baskets or just clambering around other things in a flower bed - mostly purples yet, but there will come more colours I am sure.
Bought a 'red' clematis this year, it isn't, it is very lovely but definitely purple, although the label shows a clear red - thought it unlikely at the time.
thanks for the advice. i think that when my two large-flowered clematis finally give up the ghost (and i do spend so much time and effort keeping them going!), i will try a viticella. i have a montana rubens, which i love, but even that is hammered by snails, slugs and earwigs. it seems to be doing a bit better this year, since i've been so vigilant! i'll try it with a viticella, will give the bugs some choice, and they might be a little distracted from the montana.
i bought an evergreen clematis - "early sensation", and it's supposed to be hardy. does anyone know how hardy they are? it's in a large pot, so would it be better to bring it in over winter?
rouge cardinal is almost red - i think it has a touch of pink. it's also later flowering, and the only one of my clematis that is fairly robust.
My Miss Bateman has now got 3 lovely big blooms on it , admittedly they've all got small holes in which is probably due to the earwigs, that you all warned me about. This is it's fiirst year and I hope that as it gets taller, the flowers will be not so vunerable. They are only about 5inches from the ground. So looking forward to next year.
Bookertoo - was your red clematis called rebecca? I was very tempted to buy this one and held back thinking it probably wasn't red.
@diggingdoris, Miss Bateman gave us 3 blooms the year we bought her and about 12 the following year. This year, there were about 40, half of which were eaten by the earwigs!
Good luck with yours
Thanks wintersong, that's good news. Each morning I go and look at the flowers and notice the petals are getting more lacy, but never mind there will be better results next year it seems. Nevertheless, the memories of my Nan flood back each time I look at this, as she was a Miss Bateman before she married Grandad.
Oh how lovely!
Yes Lilyfan, my 'red' clematis is Rebecca, I bought it from the breeder, which made it partiularly disappointing. It is gorgeous, but real red it is not. Maybe I should mention it to them?