Betty Corning turns into a monster and I would strongly suggest against planting it in a pot. It might be okay for a season or so, depending on your pot size, but this is one clematis that definitely needs to go into the ground. In my zone 7A, it is planted in full sun and doesn't have any issues. In your zone, it should do well in full sun.

Thank you so much for the quick reply! Is yours growing on a trellis, or in a shrub?

I have Betty Corning growing on my chain-link fence, where it gets mostly afternoon sun. (On the north side of our house, I think.) This is by far my favorite clematis--if I could only have one clematis, Betty Corning would be it. In fact, if I could only have one plant, Betty would probably win that contest, too. I've started her on the fence of the other side of the yard, as well. Seriously, I think that you will love this clematis--smells great, grows well, and the flowers are adorable. Plus, it's not one of the typical Nelly Moser types that most people are familiar with from the box stores, so I get a lot of comments from people who love the way Betty looks and can't believe it's a clematis.

Wishfulthinking, my BC is growing on a bean tower along with Warsaw Nike, Viola, and Roko Kolla. Yeah, I know that I cram them together but I say the more the merrier. There are always shrubs nearby that the plant can climb over to if it needs more room.

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Glassmouse, I agree wholeheartedly. I just wish more places would offer something than the standard large flowering hybrids. The smaller flowering varieties are not the common run of the mill types you normally see, are much more charming in their own way, and don't have half the problems that the LF hybrids have. More people should definitely grow them.

Betty Corning gets very large and like all clematis needs lots of water. I would not pick this one for a pot unless you can water it several times a day in the heat of summer.

Miguel, that is so lovely. How tall is your bean tower and what are the white posts with caps? I like that look. My new motto is going to be "cram them in" :-)

My Betty Corning was planted last fall and has covered a 6 ft trellis already this year. Mine is in full sun and very happy. Big girl, too big for a pot I think.

Carol

Carol, the bean tower info is linked below. This is where I purchased it from several years ago!

The one post with cap is where I used to have my flag before the bushes behind it grew too large. There is a birdhouse on a pole nearby so I enclosed the area between them and in that area have Wisley, Harlow Carr, Rosemoor, and what is supposed to be Blue Boy enclosed.

Below is a picture from early spring last year showing the bean tower and the other area a little bit better and the flag before it was moved.

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Here is a link that might be useful: Gardeners Supply

I agree with your cramming them in. I'm doing it but mine are not mature.

A fabulous local garden that I visited several times last year has three to a post all over. She had 8', 4 x 4 posts wrapped with sturdy wire fencing from a feed store, at least twenty of them around the garden, all topped with bird houses or feeders. All that three mature Clems on them.

The garden will be open again Memorial Weekend and I'm going to remember my camera this time!!!!

Buyorsell, I have done the same thing in my garden. We placed several 8 ft posts in the garden with bird houses on top, wrapped them with chicken wire and have clematis growing up them. I only have one clematis on each post, I see that I need to rectify that! Right now, only one of the posts is covered with a mature clematis. The others are still growing! I have at least two clematis on every trellis, obelisk and pillar. Think I need three :-) I love seeing how everyone is growing their clematis. It gives me lots of new ideas. I will look forward to seeing your photo's.

Miguel, thank you for the information. I thought I saw fencing or something between those two posts. Good idea and it really is pretty.

Carol

BorS, some of mine are mature and many are still in their sleep, creap, leap time frames. I can't wait to see what they look like when fully mature. Then again, I may regret my cram them in philosophy then. Nah, the strong will survive and the weak won't so I will be left with the ones that Mother Nature has decided are the strongest for my garden.

By the way, please do remember your camera when you go to the garden this Memorial Day weekend as I would love to see the garden you have described before! Oh if only I was a millionaire, I would jump on my private plane and be out there to see it!!! LOL

I also use the green vinyl coated fencing from Lowes and similar places to make circles to have clematis grow up. You can use vinyl coated plant stakes to secure them to the ground. Following are a few pictures of structures I have made with it!

The clematis in the following picture can climb into the Zelkova tree when it reaches the top of the area and you can see a variety of supports I use for other clematis.

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I made a treated lumber post trellis and stretched the vinyl coated fencing between the posts (shown in the background right) and the copper trellis in the foreground has similarly had it surface covered in the fencing but I can't find a big overall picture of it with the fencing on it yet.

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For anyone interested, here is a link to the Photobucket album where my pictures are stored and you can see more pictures of structures in the clematis support album.

Here is a link that might be useful: Photobucket

You have the most creative supports!

I love obelisks and wire cages but don't have any....yet.

My Clems are all on fences, lattices and arbors or between shrubs in the borders.

Love all the pictures! I've wanted Betty Corning for years but never saw it locally and my one previous experience with a mail order clematis discouraged me from doing that again. I just ordered Arctic Queen on sale from Bluestone so I'll see how that goes. Just moved to Indiana, so new house & yard. So far I've planted Niobe, Polish Spirit, Henryii, Will Goodwin, Proteus and Betty. I love all clematis & I'm tickled that the box stores are getting in so many and at such good prices. I hope to plant more & more as time goes on and this time when I move they are all going with me.

Thanks BorS. I am always viewing any type of item as a potential support!

Wishfulthinking, purchase from Brushwood or Silverstar Vinery and your mailorder experiences will be pleasant!

Miguel, I spent quite a long time looking at your albums. Thank you so much for sharing them. You've given me many ideas for supports. Your garden is so pretty, I love your combination of clematis. Did you make that copper trellis? It is awesome. BTW, what would be a good clematis to grow with Kermesina?

Carol

Here are some pictures from today of the copper trellis and wood and fencing trellis with the clematis on them.

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What a wonderland. You can hardly see the trellises for the clems.

Most of mine have a long way to go as many many were bought just last year and are bearly breaking ground now.

Marie in ME

Glorious! You certainly have some healthy, happy clems.

Carol

Carol, the three copper trellises were purchased from a seller on eBay. Don't remember the name but he did great work. As far as what to plant with Kermesina, it really depends on your color likes. A white would be great since it would pick up on the white in the center of the Kermesina bloom. Perhaps Huldine which does have some pinkish cast to its edges. Or perhaps Alba luxurians with its green tipped ends.

If you want purple or bluish, then you have a slew of choices including Polish Spirit, Etoile Violette, Blue Belle, Victoria, Viola, Star of India, Perle d'Azur.

Marie,like I said before, I believe in cramming as many clematis together as possible.

I do too, Miguel, but most of mine were bought just last year and haven't gotten that big yet.

This early Spring, before the other perennials were coming up, I could find many more spaces to put more clems than there were last Fall.

Right now I am waiting for some TB irises to bud & bloom so I can dig them out to make another clem structure to put some new clems in.

Marie in ME

buyorsell, does Gail still sell plants at her open houses? I may try to get down there. I bought Betty Corning last fall along with 4 others in 4" pots, and it and Blue Boy are doing the best. 2 haven't come up yet, and one just a few tiny leaves.:-( Can't wait to see how the new ones do.

I don't think so. She said last year that she was retiring from retail sales. You can't buy anymore on her website either.

Such a fabulous garden to visit though.....