Clematis cartmanii Pixie
I am in need of a bit of inspiration for a permanent companion for my Clematis. Over the years I have tried various annuals but none of them 'do it' for me! Although gorgeous, blooms and scent, at this time of the year it remains rather uninteresting the remainder of the year. Due to the size of the pot, I am unable to humph it around and pop it out of sight (50cm high). It sits here on the back step, facing east. I have tried various structures for it to climb but this plant doesn't much want to climb those structures. I think the wind puts it off climbing. I much prefers to scramble over the edge of the pot.
An impulse buy back in 2012 when I first got into gardening, once I got it home I read conflicting advice re its hardiness and suitability for growing up here in Scotland. Hence the reason it was put into the pot. I didn't give it much hope of returning the following year. 5 years later it's still here.
What would you grow with it if it were yours? Alternatively, would this be a suitable candidate for growing in a cold greenhouse all year round, where it would be sheltered from the wind and I can have it climb pretty obelisk. I am then thinking that perhaps if the foliage was lush and full over summer I wouldn't need to bother about companions for it.
Thanks for any suggestions.
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Hi Angie - it's one of the clems that doesn't climb - it's more of a herbaceous/scrambly type which you can grow through and alongside other shrubs. If you want it to go 'up' you'll need to provide a support and tie it in. Only problem is that it's now quite mature, and you'd have to prune it back and then guide and tie in any new growth in as it appears. Not sure how easy that would be. I did it with my alpina as it had been in a pot for a good while when I bought it.
Could you place it somewhere that has other shrubs which flower through summer? You could plant it directly into the ground in front of them. Sheltered, sunnyish sight I'd think. Alternatively - somewhere that you can grow annual climbers or another clematis behind it.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks Fairygirl, it was climbing up a small trellis when I bought it, hence why I thought it would do exactly that when mature. The 'sheltered' spot in the open ground here in my garden is a tricky one, which is why I thought to take it into the greenhouse.
I don't think I'd be able to remove it safely from the container either so maybe another clematis might be the way to go.
If it's happy in the pot Angie - I'd keep it there. Perhaps you could have a few nice pots around it with complementary planting - similar coloured bulbs for spring and then a few annuals or something for summer?
Meant to say - it looks very happy and healthy anyway
Last edited: 21 April 2017 15:27:07
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Hi
Looks happy and healthy
Why not put in some annual seeds - just a few/ Put a little compost in the back of pot (good for the clematis as a mulch anyway) and then add a few blue 'love in the mist' (Miss Jeykll still my fav despite all the other varieties) and some Californian poppies - all will love the feed you give the clematis and will look fab with the foliage. At the end of summer pull them out and wait for the Pixie to dance in spring!
Yes it is very happy and healthy, which I am pleased about. It seems to thrive on the little attention it gets. I'll give it a bit more thought this summer and see how I can improve the display once I move that plastic storage box to somewhere more suitable when I can finally move all the stones that are earmarked for the pond. It's one step forward two steps back here in the garden at the moment. I've got too much time on my hands waiting for the pond plants to come through the post.
It's a lovely plant. How about something purplish to contrast with the nice limey green? Bowle's Mauve wallflower perhaps (if the site suits it); it'd be in flower now and keep going well into the summer.