I don't have a picture, but the leaves fall off and they are just bare vines.

In summer they are covered with smallish green leaves, in fall they drop and in winter they are bare stems.

Thank you both for your replys!

I have 3-4' retaining wall and same height of chain link on it where I planted the montana. For covering the retaining wall eventually, would you think I should hang the garden net (such as birdnet) over the concrete wall part? Or will it cascade from the chain link part?

Thanks!
-b

The plant will want to grow vertically. To get it to grow horizontally you have to train it. I grow a montana reubens along a fence but I did it by training the vines through the fence almost daily.

Thank you Bob414 for your advise!

I'll try to train montana horizontally until they get the point covering the ugly wall!

-b

Like bonzgirl, I too would like to see pictures of a clematis montana in the winter. I just ordered a var. wilsonii and was thinking of planting on a north/west brick wall in the front of my house. But not sure how it will look after the leaves fall. Considered an evergreen clematis (armandii) but I think the sun would be too strong (especially on a brick wall) during hot summers we have here in southern Virginia, zone 7a. If anybody has pics or could give advice on evergreen flowering vine for my zone, please post. Need something that is not invasive and looks good on red brick.