Please recommend a clematis

One of the best ways I have grown clematis is to have two different ones, a clematis alpina for an early one and a viticella for a later one. I grew them over the pergola, but what is quite clever is that the early one flowers and then has lovely seedheads to enjoy so that you then get the later flowers mixed in with the seedheads. So basically you look for clematis that flower at different times and put them together. These are not as vigorous as the montana kind.

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I have Jackmanii pictured, and also a Nellie Moser, both vigorous bloomers.

The jackmanii flops over to the south side of the fence for the neighbours to enjoy.

Clematis flammula, summer flowering with a lovely scent.

I love Avalanche - but I haven’t managed to keep any for longer than 4 years. That could well be the combination of clay soil and nearby oaks, of course.

I have used Montana as the main vigorous grower but as it flowers early I have grown different species along with it to add colour year long. The Montana is really tough and acts as a climbing frame for other ones.

Bit late to the party😊 but I’d like to give a shout out for the viticellas. They are later flowering and produce masses of flowers over a long period in mid-late summer.

I have minuet and lady Dianna (although she prefers her feet to be damp and I need to mulch her like mad) but they are both lovely clematis.

Growing two together works well.

I have clematis in my garden for the whole year - in a month or so the winter ones will be flowering for the bumbles😊.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I love Nellie Moser and the President.

Didn't we have a poster called Nellie Moser?

I love clematis and have grown them for years .
My mother grew them too .
One thing that both of us agreed on -the hybrids can be tricky .
The easiest to grow are the Montanas which can be pink ot white .
I've grown them together and they look charming .
Mum and I both grew the old favourites The President and Nelly Moser -both lovely.
It's getting a little bit cold to plant them .
If you are in the South it's OK.
Plant deep and not too close to the wall to ensure good drainage .
Look out for clematis wilt -the main reason why they fail.

My vote would be for the President and Nelly Moser. Both easy to look after and flower well.

Another vote for Nellie Moser.

Princess Diana is a vigorous deep reddish pink. Deciduous clematis.. it produces masses of tulip shaped blooms and has covered my south east facing fence.

My very favourite clematis is Nelly Moser. Flowers the size of tea plates (often bigger) and a lovely asset to the spring garden.

Just to say Etoile Violette is a dark purple. It would look good on pale silvery granite but wouldn't show up well on a dark background. I need to replant mine so that it scrambles up a golden privet rather than a dark laurel.

The Viticella clematis are vigorous and reliable, I've found. The flowers are smaller than some but plentiful and long lasting. I have Etoile Violette (purple), Mme Julia Correvon (claret red) and Rouge Cardinal (crimson). They like shade at the roots. I provide this with pieces of slate and low shrubs. Like most plants it takes a couple of years for them to settle in and get their roots down before they put on a show. They can be pruned back hard in mid February.

Montana

Front!

My son has The President growing at the from of his house, it’s and older variety and prolific. So much so that people stop to photograph it when it’s in full bloom. Sorry I haven’t one to post. When it stops flowering, around July, he cuts it down and it blooms again, although less heavily. It’s got the last of its blooms now.
I have several dotted around the garden, but none are particularly spectacular.

I think it is called Pandora jasminoides. Not only does it blooming for months but it lovely little tiny leaves are evergreen.

To go off at a tangent I am looking put on my garden fence which is covered in a thick cascade of white blooms which has been there for weeks and always continues blooming till late November. It is a jasminoides ... an unscented and very hardy jasmine. It is a joy every year, especially as it is flanked by autumn colours. I cannot recommend it too highly ... it is a breath of fresh air when everything is on the wane.

Clematis "Montana" are vigorous growers. I have a pale pink one. I also have one with white flowers which is not so vigorous but still pretty. I have a favourite that is called a Solitary clematis. Dark purple flowers that look like pixie hats. It's a surprisingly good climber and is still flowering now.

Not a gardener kitty but I think it depends if you want a spring or summer flowering variety and then do you want one with small or large flowers.
This is an armandii - small flowers in May and mine’s growing up a south facing pergola.