That's the way I grow durandii, but I wouldn't call it vigorous. Maybe in your climate it would be so, but not for me and I've had it for many, many years. It does grow nicely though.

I wasted so much time and effort with this one trying to get it to grow upright which despite my efforts, just looked ridiculous. Then I kind of trained it to grow through a shrub which worked nicely until that shrub died. I didn't want to move it, so I just let it sprawl on the ground. Perfection! I love it that way. It also has the good sense to hold its flowers high off the ground.

Kevin

I tend to grow my clematis upward into shrubs, but I've heard others say that if you have slugs, the clematis will get munched on if they are on the ground. As long as you don't have slugs and you won't need to mow the area, I can't see any other problems.

I've seen Sweet Autumn Clematis as erosion control (?)on the banks of White Rock Lake in Dallas Texas. It's in full sun, though.

bk

I have used Petit Faucon this way and like it. I've often wondered if Alba luxurians would work as a rambler; could be quite striking.

Gary

It is a good idea but in my own experience I had a Jackmani clematis that lost its trellis and started meandering around. It was quickly smothered by other plants and eventually died out. I think it could work but would require alot of care.

I am having to fight a clematis whose trellis rotted after 25 years and has became a bed covering ground cover (lol). Last years casualty was a 25 yr old (companion plant) tritomia that was completely enveloped all season. I wonder what the clematis will eat this year....

ah, it can go on a munching rampage in the woods - the greedier the better.

I tried it years ago and it didn't work - it never really rambled very far (a foot or two maybe), and overall wasn't very vigorous. Not sure if it was the cultivar (don't remember which cultivar), the fact she didn't like being on the ground, or both.

My praecox is a thug with thickness to what sprawls. Bloom is not much to get excited about, but the width and rambling is good. It'll go for the sun (run out or up whichever way it can get it's tips to the sun). It'll also do a decent job of overtaking whatever it's in it's way. Large leaves with lots of side branching.

My rooguchi does have the 'cute' little blooms. It's not near as sturdy of a vine though. It's my first one up in the spring and grows fast up I'm not sure it'd handle roaming around on it's own and bet it's competition. (I have mine on an upright support structure).

My durandii is a sweetheart. But I have it going both up and also rambling in a bed setting. It's not near the length, width nor fighter the praecox is though. I'm not sure it would do well and what you wanting in the setting you're thinking it for.

I will surely be letting C.flammula free and, having seen C.cirrhosa running wild in Greece, I might let that loose on the sunnier south-facing bank into the dry ditch (apart from when the Yare overtops).

Interesting responses.....would say the jury was still out so should be worth a punt.