Clematis – To Be or not To Be.
24/05/2008Most of the clematis [see News for more info] in the garden are growing away well now, but some have only just peeked up, and 2 or 3 are still thinking about it! I have found that it pays not to give up on the ‘non showers’, as young plants can take their time, and I have even known one to take a year off, before re-appearing. Quite what they are doing down there I don’t know, but the viticella ‘Tango’ in question now climbs up into a pendulous copper beech every year, looking fabulous in mid to late summer.
C. texensis ‘Princess Diana’ is not vigorous here and rather capricious, but lovely when she does grace the garden with her presence. One year I had given up on her and planted another clematis to the side, only to see 2 shoots zoom up within days!
I give all clematis the best conditions I can, but I have learnt from experience and observation, which types do well and which are not suited by our soil. I do try recommended group 3 types, other than viticella, and some fail, others are valued discoveries.
Some nurserymen categorise Viticella by breeding and others by their growth characteristics – not all good plants have known parentage. C. ‘Black Prince’ is one such, and although not listed as a viticella by one good nursery, I agree with one that does, and find it to be a fine and vigorous, floriferous clematis.
Nothing quite beats experience.
