Plant Inspirations
June 2007 ~ Classic Clematis

‘Design classic’ is an everyday term which can come to mind when we’re thinking of anything from a Jaguar E-Type to a little black dress.  In gardening there are some plants that have the same quality that makes them desirable whatever the decade or the setting.  Clematis are definitely on the A list with their fabulous choice of flowers and colours.

Simply being a climber gets clematis off to a great start.  The versatility and space-saving qualities of climbers makes them ideal for such a wide range of situations.  In smaller gardens, using vertical space for a cascade of colour adds maximum interest for a small footprint.

Growing climbers up walls and fences is a great way of softening hard boundaries and creating a sense of space – an apparently permeable boundary is far less ‘enclosing’ than a solid wall or fence.  

You can also use them to great effect for screening off garden eyesores or on trellises to divide areas.  It can even work to grow them through the branches of a deciduous tree.

Let’s take a look at some of them that are at their best at this stage of the season.  All of these fall into the category of early-mid-summer flowering clematis and most have big, confident flowers:  Belle of Woking, Beauty of Worcester, Countess Lovelace, Henryi and of course the stunning Nelly Moser.   Shade doesn’t rule out clematis either.  Clematis ‘Dawn’ is a great choice for these situations.

If you’re planting in the ground, good drainage will help your clematis to thrive.  Work in plenty of soil improver (compost, well-rooted manure) when you plant and water well, especially if planting through the summer.  It helps to keep the roots cool, so arrange slates or stones to keep the sun off the ground above the roots.  Pruning back to a pair of strong shoots 15 or 20cm above ground level is an effective way of encouraging strong growth.
Clematis is a great patio plant too.  It can thrive in a pot and bring all the benefits of flowers and foliage to hard surfaced areas where it isn’t possible to plant into the ground. This flexibility also allows you to move your clematis, either around the garden or if your domestic arrangements force you to move house frequently.  Containers do need to be big enough (at least 45cm deep and 30-45cm wide) and container-grown plants will need a little more in the way of feeding and watering than if they’re planted in the ground.

Clematis offer a wonderful combination of beauty and practicality as well as producing lots of big, eye-catching flowers! 

Newington Nurseries, a haven for plant lovers, on the A329, Newington, nr. Stadhampton, Oxon

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