RE: Yet another Clematis Question

Hi Cathy, try some of the texensis clematis -- you guessed it -- the species is native to Texas!  There is Etoile Rose (deep rose), Gravetye Beauty (beautiful burgandy red), Duchess of Albany (bright pink) -- there are many others, but not so readily available in my neck o' the woods (Oregon).  Bet they may be in Texas though! 

This branch of the clematis family is a real charmer, with upside down bell or pagoda looking flowers.  They can get quite large here in Oregon (12-15').  

In your case, I would also try the vitacellas there as well.  They seem to tolerate all types of conditions.

You may want to stay away from the early, larger flowered types (the ones most people think of when they think of clematis) until you know your garden enough to have some heat-protected areas.  Growing them through shrubs, etc., in that type of heat seems to make some sense to me.  Perhaps they wouldn't "fry."

I don't think there is any reason you can't let them ramble on the ground.  Go for it.  And let us know how it works!  Do realize, those, that the base of the plant may be rather a large "heap" at maturity.

-----Original Message-----
From: Cathy Higgins [c*@txucom.net]
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2003 5:59 AM
To: perennials@hort.net
Subject: Yet another Clematis Question


I'm getting ready to try and start several Clematis in my backyard.
I've grown them with great success in Kentucky but now we live in
Montgomery TX   zone 8b.   Am I going to have trouble?    I'm wondering
if anyone has grown them by just letting them ramble on the ground?  How
does that work?    I could give them support up a wall but it gets
really hot and I don't want them to cook.   I'm thinking bouganvilla
would be better for the wall and I'd love to have my beloved Clematis
ramble if possible.

 

Cathy

Zone 8b

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PERENNIALS

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PERENNIALS
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index