I have mine on a trellis, and it seems to climb just fine. I may tie a few early stems to the trellis, but then it climbs all over itself, I guess. I love it. It's one of my longest bloomers.

I've seen it grown surrounded by either a decorative or a nonobtrusive cage or also grown next to a shrub that it can scramble through.

i grow it over a chamae. obtusa nana lutea- yellow conifer. love it
best,
mindy

I have mine growing up a 12' wide wooden trellis next to our patio, along with several others (Alba Luxurians, Venosa Violacea, and Viticella). It is at least 7' high and climbs pretty well for a non-climber ;) I planted it at the exposed end of the trellis (the other end joins with the house), so half of it climbs, and the other half I leave alone to bush out and soften the exposed end of the trellis. It is usually one of the first clematis to bloom for me, and has a nice long bloom period. Right now all of its companions are also blooming. I'm thinking of planting another one to grow up a Sutherland Gold Elderberry shrub, inspired by a combo someone once posted on this forum in a photo.

I am not happy with my methods yet. I keep trying. Some will scramble happily over a shrub but others smother the shrub to death. Some have some "grip" to them but most do not. 'Alionushka' does grip a bit and I didn't plan for that when I planted her.

I have some decorative cages but they just look stuffed and unhappy to me.

A couple years ago I planted R'chi to drape down a hardscape wall but not working well. Stems seem too stiff, just want to go up.
I have another one ready to plant (love the bells), want to run it up and thru Limelight Hydrangea. Good idea? or not?
This is a good topic as I am just getting into integrifolias, non-climbers, appreciate ideas. Have used short obelisks, peony supports, don't really want to leave them scramble on ground due to mud, critters, RABBITS, etc.
Marlene