It grows V-e-r-r-r-y-y-y s-l-o-w-l-y and a clematis would overrun it in about 2 weeks of growth (3 days for sweet autumn clematis). This would even be true if the walking stick was 10 years old as a head start.

~Chills

My Harry Lauder's Walking Stick doesn't grow all that slowly; might be a zone difference. But I agree that most Clematis would outgrow it soon; you'd have to stick with the smaller ones. But also, the charm of this shrub is in winter when the stems are bare, and you don't want Clematis leftovers draped all over it at that time. You'd want to have a clematis that you cut to ground in fall. Actually what would probably work really well (hmmm, I might try this myself) are the integrifolia or recta types, that is the scrambling herbaceous ones like Rooguchi, Durandii, etc.

One other caution: the shrub suckers off the rootstock, and in mid-summer you want to be able to get in there and cut the suckers down.

If you want a contorted tree for your clematis, try Morus bombycis unryu - contorted mulberry. It grows much faster. The only problem would be that the leaves are very large. But, you could prune some of them so that the clematis flowers are more distinctive. I love mine, and now you've given me an idea!

I use the branchs I prune off in the spring, for stakes in my pots. I have Clematis 'Proteus' growing up one right now, and it looks gorgeous.

Susan

Hi Newbie_WI,

I have a Harry, approx. 5'x4' and planted Venosa Violacea at his base this spring. So far so good. Venosa is a type 3 and not supposed to reach gargantuan heights so it seemed like a good companion anyhoo :). My Harry is a pretty fast grower now that he's been in the ground for a couple of yrs. I mainly planted the Venosa to hopefully hide Japanese Beetle damage since Harry seems to be their favorite and his leaves get turned to lace every summer. The main problem I foresee is that Harry is primarily a winter interest shrub and obviously his winter interest will be marred w/a dead clematis vine. I will probably prune Venosa in early winter to let Harry shine. Hopefully it will work out o.k....