I planted her this past fall, and she's looking great so far. I'm eager to hear the responses to your posts as well. I'm hoping she'll grow up and over an arch...with the rose Alberic Barbier.

Robert

Hi Robert. The 1 I saw could easily do that. They tied @ 5 stems to 1 side of a single walkthrough wrought iron arch & let the other 4 or so stems sprawl on the ground which were at least 7 ft long. It was the new growth from those tied stems I noticed were starting to wrap around the arch. I think the reason they say it's a nonclimber is that I don't think the new growth can hold the weight of those stems. The leaves are huge on the woody part of the vine. I wonder if it would have been pruned like it was suppose to be that it would have more than the 10 stems coming from the base & not be as woody. I really liked the way this 1 was growing & seemed pretty tame. From what I could tell amongst all the weeds, each stem didn't branch off too far & stayed about a foot wide. I can visualize using each stem like a piece of garland & weaving it in & out of perennials. I did pick up 1 of the long vines & did not appear to be clinging to all those weeds, which is another good sign of it being tame. I did not see it flowering so I can't say how much wider each stem will get. I'm curious to here someone's experience with the proper pruning.

She's bushy for me on a support - I could see her smothering neighbors if allowed to scramble. Mine is about 7' tall and 6' around; 3 years old. This one is called the 'bush clematis' for a good reason. ;)

Organicmickie, do you have a picture? You might change my mind on how I was planning on growing her. How have you been pruning & about how many stems does it have?

She has died to the ground for the 3 years I've had her. There are only a few, about 6 stems. I don't have a picture, sorry! I'll see about taking one.

Mine has been in place for the fourth summer. mine dies back every year.
It currently (i could count if I could get in there) about 25 stems. I have tied it with string to the fence about every foot up the fence. Not the stems individually but as a whole. It will top the fence within the next month and then some.

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Dana

So far she has been a scrambler in my garden as well but this is her first year and she is struggling due to the heat and humidity. If she is anything like jouianana praecox, I think she will overwhelm her perennial neighbors depending on which ones you are grow her with.

I have jouianana praecox too but have not planted her yet.

I haven't decided if I like this clematis habit. I find it difficult to enjoy compared to some of the others. I must think of a better way to show it, offer it an obelisk of 6' or so?

Dana

Thank you for the pictures, Dana, that helps a lot! I see you have her planted pretty close to other perennials which is giving me more confidence. I now know I could easily tame her up an obelisk. The things I've been reading about her unruliness? She doesn't look wild at all! There is enough room where I planted her to put up an obelisk if the scrambling doesn't work out.

nckvilledude, what is the closest you would plant something to her when allowed to scramble? Right now the closest plants are some oriental lilies & clematis stans, @ 3' away.

I am also concerned about noticing her flowers displayed in this fashion. From pictures I've seen on the internet, they look pretty small & wonder if they can be appreciated spread out & from afar.

I think I may just have to live with her a season to decide. I really hope she works out the way I visualize her to.

Your Clematis are Very pretty Dana!!...Jeanne

Dana, my jouianana praecox scrambles on the ground and up and over and into a variegated privet. I would imagine some of the longer vines are 10 feet long. I have seen a picture, think it was in Linda Beutler's book, of it growing up and through an obelisk and it looked great. I went looking through my pictures of it and the last time I took a picture was 2006 and here it is. This year it is even bigger and spread out more. I personally think this one would look good also scrambling down a slope of some sort.
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lalalandwi, since this is my Mrs. Robert Brydon's first year in the ground I am not sure how close to advise you to plant it to other plants. I am linking you to the COTW listing for Mrs. Robert Brydon and as you can see in some of the pictures, it can get huge. I know Carol in SC grows it so maybe she can offer a picture of hers in her garden to give you a better idea.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mrs. Robert Brydon