Clematis, if you could pick just 2 what would they be?

I have 2-3 clematis and find myself wanting more of these beauties.
Where do you buy your clematis and which 2 would you recomend and why?

I've been looking at Silver Star as they have a nice selection and you get alot of plant for your money. I understand she is a very nice and helpful lady who grows big healthy cleamatis. I'm sure Victor will weigh in shortly as he has bought from Silver Star before.
Here's the link for those of you that want to drool:
http://www.silverstarvinery.com/vines.asp

I was just thread browsing and someone had posted this link to clematis a lady is growing. They are magnificient!!
http://www.westvalleyrose.org/roseinfo/climbersinthelandscape.html

They ARE magnificent Celeste, thanks for the link.

Pixie - thanks for starting this thread. Do you have specific colors in mind?

My favorite has to be Liberation. The flowers are enormous.

No specific color.....I love them all! Thats the problem!!!

That's even better: then you have no reason to limit yourself!

I've been thinking which other one I'd select but have to go over my photos to help me decide. I'm weak willed when it comes to buying them. That is a good quality, right?

A very good quality!!!! I have the same one! LOL

Here's another beauty from Debbie. I like Brushwood and Garden Crossing also. Debbie's have the largest root systems though.

Beautiful, Louise.

Thats lovely!!!!!!!

Clematis on the obelisk - probably Ramona but I'm not sure. I've planted so many there and some take off while others don't.

It's beautiful and the white peonies look lovely with it!

Thanks. Here's Blue Moon (aka Claire de Lune), also on the obelisk.

...and this pink one!

One of my longest blooming and fastest growing is the dark purple "Plish Spirit" I love that one!! The other one I would have if i could only have two would be Sweet Autumn , the smell of the flowers is incredible in the fall or Annabelle. Shes a good short steady bloomer all summer long and i planted 5 of her to grow through my roses and it is rather beautiful!! Those are my 3 picks but i could choose 2 out of those. i have over 50 different clematis and these are my 2-3 favorites for bloom, color, and
fragrance.
Julie

Sweet Autumn is very tempting. When the house next door is sold I'll think about using it along the entire property line.

Ha! Pick two?? I planted about 30 or so just last spring. I agree with Weeze on the other two sources - I've bought from both, but you get much more bang for your buck from Silver Star. I love Ramona - a group 2. I let it scramble over my juniper ground cover. I'll dig up some photos and offer more.

That link is beautiful, Celeste. But don't get too excited about the montana 'Reubens' one, which is gorgeous. Too cold in your area for it. The montanas, group 1 - meaning you don't really need to prune at all, all get huge too. They are the earliest blooming - mid spring here.

Very useful thread. I've never grown clematis before and am planning to put at least one in my new area. My zone probably needs Group 3. I just went to the Silver Star website and began dreaming. Thanks Pixie!

bebop - from all I've read about Silver Star if you call and speak to Debbie she'll help you with what grows in your area, colors, etc.

Absolutely. She takes time to answer any and all questions, bebop. She is a very nice person. I recommend her without any reservation whatsoever.

I've heard about the fragrance of Sweet Autumn, but also heard it is invasive and messy. Anyone have luck with it?

I like that idea, especially since we are now considered a z5 but still tend to have z4 winters.

That's one I don't grow. I have heard about the invasiveness too. It gets very large.

Which idea, Celeste?

I have it, (S.A.)but it's only 2 years old this spring, and I have yet to see it bloom.
The ones I own :
Mrs. N. Thompson
John Paul II
Will Goodwin
General Sikorski
and a red one that I can't think of the name of at the moment.
Have only seen 2 in bloom so far, none of them have been in my garden more than 3 years this spring. They were all very tiny when planted and struggled the first winter.

They take a few years to establish - especially if you start with a small root mass. Will Goodwin is gorgeous. I've posted many pics of it.

Victor, to answer your question..the idea that I can call Debbie at Silver Star and she will advise me with zones, color ect...

Okay - we're crossing a lot here. (We might see this on the Texas Forum) Here is Will.

This message was edited Jan 14, 2008 11:13 AM

Back view.

It's lovely! I like Will G. and I suppose if he has to make his rounds, glad he stopped here first!

A couple of things about clems that I mentioned last spring when we were discussing them. They don't need alkaline soil, contrary to popular myth. My soil is very acidic and they do fine. You should plant them deep, and at a 45 degree angle - they will grow more stems (kind of like tomatoes growing more roots if you clip the lower leaves and cover them with soil).

Treat group 2's like 3's for the first couple of years - cut them back all the way. You may sacrifice some blooms those years but will get a much bigger plant in the end. Debbie told me about that one.

Be patient.

I've had the wilt problem on a couple, and read that they might be strong enough by the third year to survive that problem.

I've been lucky and never had it - at least that I know of. I lost a few - almost certainly due to dryness. They need adequate moisture for sure!

It's sad because all of a sudden half the plant just wilts and dies. So far mine have come back. I'm going on 2-3 years for some of them.

Is your region very humid in the summer?

Sometimes.

I used to endure the awful look of the brown leaves and stems after bloom but this year, when blooms are done, I'm cutting them back to the first bud. I tried it on one two years ago and it did beautifully. I've also done that to Henryii and he bounced back better than ever.

Get a cup of coffee or tea and sit back, relax and enjoy this link of amazing clematis and roses: http://www.westvalleyrose.org/roseinfo/climbersinthelandscape.html

I think that's the same link that Celeste put at the beginning.