Add clematis anywhere!
By: Garden Gate staff
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Add clematis anywhere!
What’s a garden without a clematis (Clematis hybrid) clambering over a white picket fence or scrambling on a trellis? But there are hundreds of clematis species and varieties, and some work well in out-of-the-ordinary spots. Click ahead for some examples!
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Hot spots
Clematis typically need to have their roots kept cool in the summer and require a winter chilling period to thrive. This can be a challenge where summers are hot and dry and winter is brief. ‘Odoriba’ is a hybrid of two native species (C. viorna and C. crispa) that thrives in these tough conditions. Its pink and white flowers will show off on an arbor, pergola or in a tree in late summer to early fall.
‘Odoriba’
Clematis hybrid
Type Vine
Blooms Lilylike pink and white in late summer through early fall
Light Full sun to part shade
Soil Moist, well-drained
Size 8 to 10 ft. tall, spreading
Cold-hardy USDA zones 5 to 9
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1
Source Klehm’s Song Sparrow Nursery
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Container gardens
If you don’t have much space to garden, a compact clematis, such as Parisienne, will fit into small beds and even large containers. It’s part of the Boulevard® Series, which has lots of colors to choose from and offers season-long color on compact vines.
Growing a clematis in a container is easy, but there are a few things to keep in mind: Be sure to choose a pot at least 18 in. wide and deep to hold the roots and stabilize the vine. In cold climates, overwinter the clematis by wrapping the pot and woody stems with burlap after a hard freeze. Make sure it’s in a place that’s protected from wind and heavy snowfall. Choose wood and resin pots that can handle freezing temps.
Parisienne™
Clematis hybrid
Type Vine
Blooms Light purple from early to late summer
Light Full sun to part shade
Soil Moist, well-drained
Size 3 to 4 ft. tall, 2 to 3 ft. wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 4 to 9
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1
Source White Flower Farm
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Wall coverings
‘Bill MacKenzie’ is a vigorous vine that can quickly cover a wall, chainlink fence or large trellis. It makes a great backdrop or screen.
Most clematis bloom in shades of purple, pink, white, red and blue, so these golden-yellow open bell-shaped flowers are an interesting alternative. As flowers fade, ‘Bill MacKenzie’ develops tan silky seedheads that stay on even after the leaves drop, providing extra interest through winter.
‘Bill MacKenzie’
Clematis hybrid
Type Vine
Blooms Bell-shaped golden-yellow from late summer through frost
Light Full sun to part shade
Soil Well-drained
Size 10 to 15 ft. tall, spreading
Cold-hardy USDA zones 4 to 9
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1
Source Lazy S’S Farm
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