Whoever stated that was dead wrong ! Clematis can be grown facing any direction as long as they recieve 4-6 hours of sunlight for optimum flowers. I use a very heavy layer of bark mulch as a cover over the roots to keep the moisture in.
Suzy

PERLE D'AZUR does well on a north facing wall according to Diveanddig at the Hortiplex database.

Here is a link that might be useful: Perle d'Azur

I agree with Suzy.

Here's my list of north facing clematis:
Durandi, John Warren, Edouard Desfosse, Petite Faucon, Purpurea Plena Elegans, Henryii and Mrs. Cholmondeley.(sp?)

With the exception of Mrs. Cholmondeley, they are all blooming gangbusters! Hours of sunlight? Maybe four but that is probably an overestimation. I don't use mulch, however the roots are shaded by other plantings and I do keep them well watered to keep them cool.

I attribute Mrs. C's lesser performance to the fact she's only a two year old, Group 2, prone to wilt...I'm told they perform better with age...unlike me!

Bloomers

How do you get sunlight on a North facing wall? The grass on the North side of my house is struggling due to both the dogs hanging around there and the lack of sunlight. I thought about placing a clematis there but as far as I can see, that particular wall gets no sun at all.

Danni

Danni, if you have trees shading your north facing wall, then yes you will have trouble, however, if the wall is not shaded by trees the light will be sufficient for many clematis to thrive. Just keep the dog away from them !
Suzy

After watching the area for several days I see that mine gets some early morning sun.My house is a bungalow and in the morning it casts shade 7 feet out,but in the afternoon it is reduced to 4 feet out.By late afternoon into evening it is in full sun.The house is creamy yellow which seems to make a bright shade.I am going to plant one there as what people are saying ,it should do great.
I started this thread to get opinions from others, and what I gather is that the fellow that said that clematis won't grow on a north facing wall is full of --- well lets just say,cheap fertilizer.

That emphatic statement holds no water. Clematis is a pretty diverse genus and there are many forms, particularly amongh the species, that tolerate or even thrive in shade. Growing on north facing walls in my garden are armandii (a recommended shade clematis), several different montanas, Nelly Moser, Hagley Hybrid and Moonlight. All are well established and bloom profusely.

A north facing wall, unless shaded by overhangs or large trees, is generally an indirect light situation rather than a full shade location and many clematis will thrive under those light conditions.

I have a Montana rubens on the north side of my house. It climbs up and covers the roof where sunshine is plentifull. Al

I have a Polish Spirit on a north-facing wall that is in its leap year and I think it has 150-200 flowers on it right now. I have a new C. Terniflora planted just to the east of it on the same wall-the growth has reached 10 feet already. It defintely faces north, no question - I have taken a compass out to verify that fact.

I have a Nelly Moser which does very well on my north facing wall and I live on one acre of land with lots of trees. It gets about one hour of sun in the morning and a couple of hours of sun in the late afternoon and it seems to really like where it lives.

Niobe and Ville de Lyon on north wall with 2 hours sun in late afternoon.

To clarify my North facing wall situation, I do have a roof overhang and a large maple shading that wall as well, and the area is surrounded by a six foot fence. That would explain the lack of sun in that area. I think I better forgo the clematis in that area and stick to the East facing wall.

Danni

Chalk Hill nurseries has a list of clematis for shade and north-facing walls.

Here is a link that might be useful: chalk hill nurseries

Has anyone grown Dutchess of Albany on a north facing wall? It gets some sun in the morning and later in the day. The wall is white and it's bright.