Is there any reason I can't put some clems to grow up my tree? It's a mulberry tree, btw. Not incredibly dense shade (dappled), and gets some direct sun on the trunk in the late afternoons. It loses most of its leaves in late summer, so the shade would get less, then, although still some from the branches.
Is there any reason clems aren't good for growing up trees? Will the tree roots steal all the nutrients? What if I'm diligent about feeding?
Any experiences with this kind of thing to report?
Clematis on a tree
Clematis can be grown on trees easily. They won't strangle it though I would avoid a Montana cultivar I think. Here's Jackmanii climbing a shrub in my garden. I'd buy a type 3 pruning cultivar as you can cut it to the ground and pull the old vine out. Also type 3's are easiest to grow. Most nurseries will have the pruning type on the label and all of the on-line places have it.
Beautiful!
I have a couple of small type 3s that are currently on little hoops from the nursery - these:
Cassis - http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/159394/index.html
Vienetta - http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/130682/index.html
I'm thinking of using those! That would give me a mixture of purple and white on my tree. I thought it would look great when the tree loses its leaves, then there'd still be something pretty to look at!
Those are both very beautiful but both of them only get from 6-8 feet tall. You probably want something bigger to grow up a tree. Etiole Violette for instance gets to be about 15 feet tall. If you are willing to buy on-line you could ask one of the good on-line companies to suggest which ones might be right for growing on trees.
Cassis and Vienetta are beautiful. They just won't make it up into the tree.
That's true. I had forgotten that.
Oh darn! Have to buy more! ;)
Oh, darn..... LOL Life is rough all over, right?
Yeah, it's really a shame.
Frankly, I am having a hard time coming up with places to put all the Clems I'd like to have! There are so many gorgeous ones, and I seem to have either full, hot Texas sun, or really shady and here the Clems seem to prefer part sun / shade.
I expect I'll get more and more creative, though, as time goes on. I still have my whole backyard to design (it's just a big empty space right now), and lately I've been thinking about arches and patios and stuff like that. ;)
Doss: Just curious why you said you''d avoid the Montanas, cuz I just planted one at the base of a tree about a month ago. :) Have I made a dreadful mistake?
Thanks,
Deb
Negritianka is a good one for full sun in hot climates. I can't say enough how well it does here on a southern wall. The President is on a south wall too.
I'm not sure but we may need to find another opinion. I thought that they might choke a tree since they are so vigorous. Pruning out dead wood is going to be hard too. Maybe you should start a thread about that. I could be totally wrong!
Doss: Thanks. I hadn't thought of that. I suppose I'll have to stay on top of the pruning...or move it. Hmmm.
Deb
I'd ask deb. You only want to prune a montana right after bloom and only to keep it in shape. I'm not that familiar with them but there are a lot of people who could give you the real answer here.
My Clematis Etoile Violette grows up a tree on the east edge
of the grove, in partial sun.
It seems to like it there.
Corinne
Very pretty Corrine.
Corinne, did you have to put a trellis or some other support for it to climb the tree, or does it grow up the trunk itself?
Unfortunately, when I searched the "Clematis on the Web" site, the only really high growers (15+ feet) are all Montana variety.
I might have to go with just the trunk being covered. Unless somebody else can chime in who's grown a Montana up a tree without having any troubles?
Not true. As I mentioned before, Etoile Violette grows to 15 feet tall on one site. Clematis 'Bill MacKenzie' grows to 20 feet.
Clematis campaniflora is 20 feet and is supposed to 'cloak a dark tree or shrub'.
Clematis 'Paul Farges' grows 14-20 feet.
Clematis 'Purpurea Plena Elegans' is generally suited to grow on trees.
and there are quite a few 10-15 feet climbers.
No photos but try Joycreek. It's easiest to scan.
http://www.joycreek.com/ref-cl.htm
I really think that someone needs to ask the question about tree climbers and Montanas in a new thread.
Goldenberry,
I put some black plastic netting around the lower six feet
of the tree trunk. Then there are lower tree branches the vine
uses to grow up.
Corinne