Rehderiana

[oldmoleskins]

the one I planted earlier in the year has made masses of tangled foliage (and just a few late flowers) but pretty well resolutely refuses to climb its lovely trellis or mingle with the pyracantha it shares it with - is it known to be a poor climber?

OM

[Rosefriend]

Hi OM

Er well silly question perhaps - but why do you want it to grow up with the pyracantha - wouldn't it look a bit odd in winter. I mean dead leaves wouldn't show the pyracantha up well will it?

Rosefriend

[Spruance]

Hi OM,

I've just googled this and the one constant is 'vigorous climber'! Also ideal for growing through a tree due to its rapid growth.

This Crocus link might help, otherwise you need to ask Plocket!

www.crocus.co.uk/plantingideas/results/?ContentType=Plant_Card&ClassID=914&CategoryID=

[oldmoleskins]

Ignorance, I suppose Rosefriend - that and my natural boyish optimism... I suppose (as far as I thought at all) that being late but long flowering, it might give some additional early colour to the Py while the berries were forming - and it's one you cut right down in winter anyway isn't it?

So if that's right, the Py would be left in its glory.
Trouble is, the clem is such an untidy heap of a thing I'm doubtful if it's much use to the scheme of things - is it known to be difficult? I'm quite happy to put it on the bonfire if there's a better one I should have planted... why isn't it climbing - any ideas?

Help.

OM.

[oldmoleskins]

oooo sorry Spru - snuck in there while I was composing... well vigorous growth, yes - applied to the vertical - no. Makes good ground cover, more like....

OM

[Rosefriend]

Well OM - as to why it isn't climbing - no idea - perhaps you have got to get it started - a lot of climbers are like that.

As far as cutting it back - well I suppose that you could cut it back in Winter in England but I would never cut back until the Spring - too much danger of losing it here. Then you won't see the berries if you cut back in Spring.

Silly question - but most things that climb can be used a ground cover - (hanging Petunias are great for ground cover in the summer) - can't you let it go where it wants if you have the room.

BTW did you feed it because these types of Clem normally grow very quickly as far as I know.

Rosefriend

[oldmoleskins]

well, as to the last two points...

I have the room for it to drop to the ground and become a haystack - but that's not its function - it was to be beautiful in an erect sort of way and will pay the ultimate price if it fails...

Feeding...no, I don't remember doing that though it initially went into a tree container the size of a small dustbin with the Py and had fresh (and fed) compost. The Py, btw is fine - maybe it out-competed the clem?
OM

[Deleted]

It does climb and is VERY vigorous, although it takes a year or so to get going.

Mine was slow for about the first 18 months and now smothers an old apple tree - the scent is lovely too, delicate and reminds me of primroses, flowers over many months too, mine's still going strong.

[Plocket]

Hia Moley! Don't start worrying about your Rehderiana yet - many clematis take a while to establish and you only planted yours this year!! I think you'll probably find that next year it's a different story and it might take over the pyracantha - this clem can grow to 20 ft if happy. The flowers btw are tiny but when your clem is covered in them I think you'll be happier!!

[oldmoleskins]

Thanks, Dee, Plocket... you've made an old man very happy first thing in the morning - I'll put additional discrete support wires up each side of the "V" shape trellis that's there, and encourage it to the fringes for the moment - tie it in to locate it away from the Py... however, I'm beginning to think that I have chosen the wrong one for that position - what I had in mind (if, as I say above, I thought at all) was a showy "specimen" confined to an 8foot trellis panel - what I seem to have bought is the "Russian Vine"of the clematis world, by the sound of it...

So (other than to ask you all to suggest a "showier" but maybe less vigorous alternative - I already have a tangutica and a ville de lyon) there is the "cut back" question: Rosefriend suggests the Spring, but correctly identifies it will look ragged among the Py - if I wade in earlier, will our winters kill it?

And if you do have a go at suggesting one, perhaps it should be evergreen - or as evergreen as clems can be - are there any?

OM

[Rosefriend]

Well OM - this is far more Plockets field than mine but I really have fallen in love with the Clematis Texensis range. Some are gorgeous and the flowers are small and would look good with a py.

Some do grow high - 4-5 metres but the one thing that really makes it for me is that they die down in Autumn naturally and would therefore let your Py show itself to the full.

Only a thought though - I tend to like the smaller flowering Clems - Ville de Lyon was one I had for years though - beautiful colour....

Rosefriend

[Plocket]

There are lots of evergreen clematis Moley but most of them want a very sunny, sheltered spot. If you can provide that then take a look at the cirrhosas, armandiis, cartmaniis, "Early Sensation", "Moonbeam" and "Pixie".

This is an excellent database of clematis: www.clematis.hull.ac.uk/new-clemlistsearch.cfm
Type in "evergreen" under the section "Main text includes" and you'll get a very long list, many of which are difficult to get hold of plants. But you'll see the armandiis and cirrhosas and can click on them to see what the flowers are like.

I hope this helps you!