Clematis to grow in an outdoor pot?

Purchased a very small clematis plant (main vine branch is currently about 5" long) and was going to plant this outside. However, the location is proving to be heavily shaded. I have another location, but it will need to be in a container with a trellis setup up against a fence that's 6' high. This is a purple clematis hybrid that is supposed to be pruned to 2' in the early spring (type 2?). The instructions if I remeber, talk about prepairing the ground with a 1' or 2' square hole.(2'x2'x2')

-What size container is a good choice (trying to avoid re-planting/ re-potting)?

Clematis need a good root system to get established and do well in the ground - the types of clems normally available at most local nurseries and all of the big box stores are too undeveloped...probably first year plants. You'll actually have better luck with it by planting it in a pot for the next year or two before trying to put it in the ground.

Root size is what matters - not top growth. If the roots would not fill a 1 gallon container, keep the plant in a pot for another year.

What is the name of the variety? If the instructions say to cut the plant back to 2' in the early spring, you probably have a Group 3, but I wouldn't trust that info without knowing the name of the clem. You'll also need to know the name of the clem in order to learn whether it can stay in the pot long-term - if it's a vigorous viticella like a Polish Spirit, it can grow 15' to 20' in a season and the root system would be very large within just a few years.

I'd plant the new clem in at least a 10 gallon pot for the short term. If you visit the Clematis Forum, there's a great deal of info that can help you succeed.

The clematis was purchased from the internet site "direct gardening" (I know they don't have favorable review's, but I was ordering a bunch of different plants for a difficult shady area and the prices were low)

It's called purple clematis, hybrid. Listed with a plant height of 10' and spread of 3-4'. A later flowering variety flowers on new current years growth and severe pruning to about 2' in winter or spring before new growth begins.

This plant probaby will need to remain in the container, because the in ground site I was thinking of is way too shaded.

Then I'd say it's time to make the best of the situation and declare your Clematis as a Group 3.

Plant it deeply in the largest pot you can find - a whiskey barrell would be great - and be patient. It will probably take a few years to get a good enough root system to perform well, but it will do better in the pot at first than it would do in the ground anyway. Once it puts on a few blooms for you, you may be able to have someone here ID it for you - possibly a Jackmanii. Good luck - there's not much prettier than a clematis and I have several that are doing just fine in big pots.

mocatmom,
thanks for the info.

I bought a large pot and a 6' fan trellis for this to grow up the fence on.
Got sta-green potting mix and a large amount of topsoil, and peat moss.

Was thinking for this large clematis pot using a mix of
1/4 topsoil
1/4 peat moss
1/2 sta -green potting mix

Throw some compost into that mix and your clem should be happy!