Re: Clematis - sweet autumn was: Hydrangea...vines growing thru shrubs/trees

Donna,

You will need to provide this Clematis (C. terniflora AKA C.
paniculata) with netting of some kind for it to climb.  It climbs via
twining tendrils or leaf stalks coming from the leaf axils that need
something slender so they can grab onto it.  It will not climb a tree
trunk unaided.

While they will grow in a considerable amount of shade, unless they
can have direct sun for some period, you will not get much bloom.
They like their feet in the shade and their heads in the sun as most
Clematis do.

IMHO, this is a better candidate for growing through a shrub that you
don't particularly care much about or up a fence or trellis.

Do not plant it to grow through a shrub you like because, once it
hits its stride, it will completely cover the shrub like a veil and
the shrub will not like it.  But, if you've got something expendable,
it's a neat way to grow the vine since it will cascade down all
around the shrub like a waterfall.

If you want to try growing it up a tree, first attach some of that
black bird netting or a section of that green heavy plastic fencing
to the trunk...I've found this vine really likes growing up that
plastic fencing.

This would be a super vine to cover unattractive chain link fencing.

This Clematis needs to be pruned back quite severely in late winter
or early spring,  just as the buds swell.  You want to cut it back to
a pair or two of fat buds on each major cane and get rid of all the
deadwood it will have accumulated during the season.  It will make
tremendous growth each year, once established.

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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> From: James & Donna Davis <dsdavis@INTOP.NET>
> Date: Wednesday, March 01, 2000 11:41 PM
>
> I have a sweet autumn clematis and can't decide where to put it.
do
> you think I could safely plant it near an oak tree.   I don't
believe it
> would overpower the oak because it's a very old and very large
> tree....what I'm concerned about,  would it get enough sun to
thrive in
> that location.   It would get some morning sun,  maybe 3 or 4 hours
at
> the most....
>
> Donna in NE Mississippi   zone 7
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