Early Summer Bonanza: Clematis

» GrahamL - Clematis

I would just love to know the dimensions of your respective gardens, so I know once and for all what I am up against here!? Kirk, you let yours grow and will into a 'romantic' tangle. Well, I did try that of course, but the result was far from a happy one.

My natural inclination is just to the let the plants grow as they wish, but here that's a recipe for disaster really. I have one clematis right now which is causing a real headache. Clematis jouiniana 'Praexcox'. It's has flowers like a Wisteria in colour, but the downside is rather course foliage in my opinion. It flowers late in the season and is totally herbaceous, which means it demands some sort of support and tying in.

Right now, it's growths are nearing four feet in lengh and growing in all directions, covering a Photinia. Casting shade onto newly planted hellebores, so action is required. The problem is how to tackle it? I built a wooden frame behind this clematis some years ago, but now it is totally inadequate and needs another bigger support. Ah, well time will tell which way this particular battle of wills goes!

-- posted by GrahamL