Prince Charles is a beauty but not a tall one. I think your rose, if it lives up to its reputation, will overpower this clematis.

I grow Etoile Violette and it certainly is an easy care vine. It also is so floriferous that you barely see the leaves!

As to hiding the base of the rose, you might consider a geranium of some sort or a corydalis for this purpose.

Other bluish clematis to consider might be Emilia Plater or Blekitny Aniol. Take a look at the Hull database for information on those that interest you. Have fun!

Here is a link that might be useful: Hull site

Hi,Pearl d Azur looks almost the same as Prince Charles but grows to a much bigger size and has a long bloom time.treasure trove's color will look great with the blue Pearle D Azur flowers.Pearle is in the Jackmanii group so you can cut it down and pull it off the rose makes for easy pruning

Thanks Gardenbug and CnB.

I keep reading that Perle d'Azur is "slow starting". Um, what does that mean?

My rose just arrived via the mail and it is band-size a 3" pot about 6" tall. They were all out of the quart and gallon size. I am a little shocked at just how small it is- a stick with one set of leaves. Maybe it's not such a bad thing if Perle d'azur is a slow starter. Who knows how long it will take this rose to do anything.

Lisa

Lisa, I planted 2 "Perle D'Azur" last summer in July, and both took off at once. They were 2 year plants in gallon pots. One of them grew a 6 foot vine and the other (less sun) a 4 foot vine. This year the first has 4 vines already 2 foot tall, and the other 3 vines just starting out. Not slow in my estimation.

George

George, thanks for that information. Did they flower for you last year?

Lisa

Lisa, a voice from the cutting garden forum here and a devoted clematis grower. Dont be disheartened by the size of your rose by mail order. It is actually an advantage to have a smaller rose to introduce to its new home, it will spurt growth rapidly. I recommend a good deep hole that will accomodate both the rose and Perle d'Azure (if that is what you choose) at least 2ft deep and 3ft wide if you can manage it and give them both lots of organic matter. Remember to shade the clematis roots, mulch or small stones (my mother's method, and after 80 years of growing, I reckon she'd know). I'm sure you probably know all this already so I'll leave you to your gardening. Good luck and happy growing.

Misskitty, Thanks for your input on my tiny rose. Today is the day I plant it so your info was timely.

Lisa...inquiring minds want to know..did you end up with Perle D'Azur? I planted one that I ordered in the spring of '03, grew in a pot and planted that fall. I planted mine with a 'Pearly Gates' rose. This year, I think the PD'A may eat the porch, and the rose may very well need to be moved, but MAN, is it gorgeous!
Brenda

Brenda,

The tiny twig of a rose that I planted ONE year ago is now a 15' rose. I'm a little nervous about just how big it could get with this kind of a start, but for now I'm just trying to steer it in the direction I want it to go. It is blooming for the first time and I like it's old fashioned look. It makes a beautiful bouquet together with the old hybrid musk rose Cornelia and Buff Beauty.

I did choose Perle D'Azur. It grew about 6 feet for me last year and bloomed okay for a new plant. Currently I have vines about 6 feet long. Treasure Trove is a once-blooming rose so PD'A can take over the show when the rose is finished.

I wish I could see PD'A conquering your porch- must be beautiful. Is yours blooming yet?

Here is my experience with Perle de Azur. Planted in the early 90's. Wilted down 3 years in a row. It has never been a strong plant. Brownout on all the clematis in that area 2 years ago. This year it has one lonely shoot. But Hope Springs Eternal!! I just planted a new one in another space and it's going great guns so far. It is so beautiful I'm determined to grow it.

Lisa, my PDA is not blooming yet, but there are buds. I'll post pictures when it does it's thing. I used the trellis kit from (I think) Lee Valley. You glue little "plugs" with eyes where you want the trellis then string wire through it. Mixed results with that..some of the plugs are coming off. Last year, it got to the top of the pillar I was wanting it to wrap around, and I've extended the trellis contraption to go across to the next pillar. Lol, if I had thought this was really going to work, I'd have used a more permanent trellis. May have to do something else for the long term. My rose is nowhere near the size of yours..maybe 7', and not many canes.
Flowergirl, sorry to hear you didn't have good luck with it. I ordered mine in spring and grew it in a pot and put it in the ground in the fall. There's been no looking back. It's not quite as vigorous as the Sweet Autumn that's eating the west side of my porch, but then again, it's not as old, either. And, it just blooms it's fool head off. Hope you get one to do well for you!
OH, and this is the first year I've remembered to top dress it with composted cow manure, so LOOK OUT :)
Brenda

My Perle d'Azure is getting going! It's grown quite a bit since I trimmed it back this spring, and if last year was any indication, it's got a lot of growing yet to do this season. We've had a lot of wind this year, and very little rain, but PDA seems to be adjusting to the challenge pretty well.
{{gwi:580036}}

flowerluvr-

What a beautiful clematis. I didn't realize PD'A was so blue. She needs to go on my wishlist. Where did you get here? What do you feed her? How old is she?

Absolutely breathtaking-

suebot in CT

Suebot-I planted it in the fall of '03. I ordered it in spring, and grew it in a pot until fall. Dave's Garden has it listed as available from Chalk Hill and Brushwood Nursery. I think I got mine from Chalk Hill. I'll tell you what I feed it, but you're probably gonna want to come and take it away from me, lol! I never fed it until this year, and I gave it a few scoops of composted cow manure. It seems to thrive on neglect. This spring, I cut it back to a bit lower than the rose blooms are in the picture. Last year I did the same, and it grew like crazy and bloomed it's fool head off.
The picture was taken in late afternoon, so it was in the shade, where it looks more blue. In the morning when sun is on it, it is a bit more purple. All in all, a gorgeous plant. As I mentioned, it's been pretty dry and windy, and I can't help but think that if I had been better about watering it, it would be at the top of the pillar already. By golly, I think I'm gonna go give her a drink right now while I'm thinking of it!!
Brenda

Flowerluvr- Thanks for posting your photo- looks great! What is the name of the rose you have planted with Perle? It looks like you have a lot of clematis stems coming from the ground, did you prune low to the ground the first 2 years?

Lisa

Hi, Lisa!
Pearly Gates is the rose. I don't think it's going to be able to compete with the clematis.
No, I didn't cut down as low as I probably should have the first couple of years. (That instant gratification thing, ya know?) When I cut it back this spring, I was pondering cutting way back and eliminating some of the stems. Then, I chickened out and didn't. Kinda think I should next year, easpecially in view of the fact that I'm going to have to switch from the glued on plugs for the wire to screw eyes. The glued on plugs are popping off..old paint and what-not. It is also popping out new shoots at the bottom.
Probably what I need to do is make posts with pics of my clemmies and ask the pros here for advice. I've got several that I planted before I even had a clue what I was doing-and I'm far from an expert now, lol! They could stand to be rejuvinated, and I'm not quite sure how to go about it.
Gotta say, though, with the weather we've had this year, I'm impressed with this one. We're having August weather in June, and it's still plugging right along.