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kenneth_wong6

What is a good clematis to put between my roses?

So these are the roses I have in my garden and this is the order they are planted in. Can anyone help me choose a clematis that would look nice between Gertrude Jekyll and Tess of the d'Urbervilles?

Comments (11)

  • 9 years ago

    A white would look good with any of them IMO, as would one of the deepest purples like Romantica, I think. Trying to match colors may be difficult since many clematis have colors that vary in shade with light changes as the sun moves daily. Or you could choose a mostly pastel flower such as Samaritan Jo.

    I don't know roses, so telling me which is which might help.

    Are you growing the clematis on a trellis/obelisk or on the roses and what type of space is between them? I ask because some of the most rambunctious clematis such as sweet autumn might overwhelm regular shrub roses, so choose one that it sized to complement the roses.

    The Constant Gardener (Zone 5, Ontario) thanked NHBabs z4b-5a NH
  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I am talking about putting a clematis between the red rose and the pink or maybe even between the yellow and the red. I am growing them on a wall and the clematis will be maybe 2 feet away from the base of the roses.

  • 9 years ago

    "I am growing them on a wall." Most clematis climb by twining their leaf stems around something small in diameter - think pencil width or smaller. So something other than a flat wall is needed: either a trellis with small diameter pieces, or there is a wire trellis that can be fastened to the wall that I've seen. A few don't climb, but often need support to not flop, so I either grow them up the middle of an obelisk or plant them where they can lean on neighbors such as your roses.

    At 2' away, you will want to choose more restrained clematis, not giants like sweet autumn or Betty Corning

    Do you know when your roses bloom? And do you want the clematis blooming at the same time? Generally in my zone 5, type 2 prune (light prune) clematis will bloom in late May and the type 3 (prune down to a few buds per stem in the winter) will bloom over the summer at some point, though there is a range of exactly when.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Oops, I meant to say a fence! It is like chain-linked but wooden so a lot of support. Yeah I would totally agree, I don't want too big of a clematis.

    I think my roses bloom in July till September and I'd definitely want them blooming at the same time. Thanks Babs! :)

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    So you will want a type 3 prune, summer blooming clematis. If the pieces on your wooden fence are larger than pencil width, you will still want to supply an alternative support. One option is to add a wire grid to the fence, such as concrete reinforcing mesh if you like the rusted look or vinyl covered fencing if you don't. Or a freestanding obelisk or flat trellis would work also.

    Are you open to the idea of mail order (more choices) or will you expect to find what you want in local garden centers? If you want local, I would go and see what they have and look them up on Clematis on the Web to be sure they are type 3 and in the general color range you want, though keep in mind that color of photos can be off by quite a bit, especially with blues and reds IME. My link will take you to the search page, and you can leave most info blank. If the name has more than one word, only type in one word since it doesn't like spaces.

    If you want to go mail order, I'll give some specific suggestions that I can see looking nice with your roses, though you will have to make up your own mind.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Yeah I am open to the idea of mail order! Even if I can't get it by mail, at least I know of it so that maybe I can hunt it down at garden centres. Thanks for showing me the cool clematis database!

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Realistically, many of the plants listed in CotW aren't available commercially in the US, so it can be frustrating to start there, but it's a wonderful resource for looking up info about particular plants. I'll sit down and write up a list for you to check out along with some good mail order sources later.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Thanks so much Babs!!! I appreciate all the time you took! I think I might go with Prince Charles (or Rhapsody though it is group 2 the database says it can bloom throughout summer and apparently it is fragrant)

    Oddly enough some say Rhapsody is group 3 while others say it is group 2. Must be the differences in climate with some sellers.

  • 9 years ago

    Babs gives great advice. I'll add in my recommendation for a dark purple. Of course, I'm biased -- I love dark purple with anything. :-)


    And there are quite a few clems that people disagree about on the grouping -- 2 or 3. Generally, you can treat a group 2 as a groups 3 as long as you're willing to lose the earliest blooms.

    The Constant Gardener (Zone 5, Ontario) thanked Amazindirt (7a TN)
  • 9 years ago

    In my garden, here is Zephirine Drouhin in full bloom with Prince Charles just getting started.

    and here is one of just PC in full bloom. This photo is more accurate in color, I think.

    I don't grow Rhapsody, but have thought about it. In our zone, group 2 blooms a bit earlier, but most years mother nature hard prunes them down to the snow line, so there isn't as much difference in timing as there is in warmer zones where the old wood survives above ground level.

    The Constant Gardener (Zone 5, Ontario) thanked NHBabs z4b-5a NH
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