AMONG the glories of my garden are clematis – I love the big showy flowers of the hybrids as well as the early season types cascading over walls and fences or scrambling up shrubs.
In fact, there are clematis for virtually every setting, whether you want them to hide a structural eyesore, or providing colour and interest intertwined with evergreen shrubs. There are even clematis specifically bred for containers, which will add a flourish to your patio.
Combining clematis with other choice plants, such as roses, can create a focal point in the garden which will be colourful from spring to autumn.
Roses and clematis are particularly good plant partners as they have similar feeding and cultivation requirements.
Early season clematis have bushy habits which are naturally suited to training up and hiding the bare stems of climbing or rambler roses.
Early to midsummer flowering clematis are better if thinned to five or six shoots before being tied into a rose because then the flowers will be larger and more evenly spread, making a better display.
Evergreen and deciduous shrubs can be perked up when planted with large-flowered hybrids, viticellas and compact species clematis, which flower from midsummer to autumn. But bear in mind the flowering time of each plant and how they will complement each other.
Mid-season, large-flowered hybrids will happily grow through evergreen shrubs like rhododendrons, while early to late-summer blooming clematis with shorter stems and closer flowers are more suited to combine with smaller shrubs with compact crowns.
Timing is important when growing clematis through trees or shrubs, if you want maximum colour impact.
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