HF Young is a type 2 prune clematis, so that it only gets a relatively light pruning after its spring bloom. I think it would be difficult to prune the hawthorne around the HF Young vines. It would be better to put a type 3 (hard prune) clematis on the hawthorne since it gets cut back hard during the winter and put HF Young somewhere else. It is a gorgeous clematis, worth finding a spot to plant it.

On the other hand, mine often gets frozen back to the snow line, so if needed, I guess you could treat it as a type 3 and prune it back when you prune the hawthorne. You can see what others from warmer zones think about that. Here is my HF Young in a year when it started its growing season at only about 1 1/2 feet.
{{gwi:265354}}From June 5, 2012

Taking babs' lead, you CAN hard prune the type 2 vines, especially in zone 8. All it does is delay the bloom season a bit but you will still get a good flower display. I see no reason not to attempt to grow the clematis on the hawthorn if you like.

I prune all of my type 2s as 3s pretty much every year...

It doesn't hurt them and they can't read books to know what group they are in anyway ;)

Okay, its decided then. In the ground and appears happy. Only about six inches high, but it must grow fast! What a beautiful picture!

Thanks everyone for your input.

Okay, its decided then. In the ground and appears happy. Only about six inches high, but it must grow fast! What a beautiful picture!

Thanks everyone for your input.

Duplicate

This post was edited by sara82lee on Sun, May 12, 13 at 19:48