I have a Dr. Ruppel on a trellis growing behind a rose bush, but want to plant a low to mid growing perennial in front of both this year. I also have a new Venosa Violecea I just planted and need ideas to plant near it, too. So what do you have planted around your clematis' feet? Or do you just mulch?
Thanks!
Nicole
'Head in the sun, feet in the shade' suggestions
I'm a newbie, and I'm sure some more experienced people will come along shortly with answers to your question. But I have two clems with Oxalis Triangularis (the purple shamrocks) all around their feet and it's working quite well. It is a part shade area, though, not full sun. I'm not sure how the Oxalis would do in full sun.
But, not only did the Oxalis fill in very lush and thick, the dark purple looks great next to the bright green of the clematis leaves, and even when one blooms low to the ground, the flowers really "pop" against all that dark purple.
I use a lot of manure at the base of every clematis every year and top it off with compost - no plants.
Digigirl - that sounds lovely and the Oxalis roots probably won't interfere with the clematis. I just planted Oxalis under my Harlequin hydrangea a week ago and hope for the same great results as you've experienced.
Pirl, I've been really happy with them. They are very shallow rooted, so shouldn't be a problem, and I've found them very resilient. I had the Oxalis in place first and just dug a hole in the middle of them to plant the clems. Obviously, several of the little plants got mangled. I just stuck the little bulbs back into the ground and a couple days later, they were back up and growing again. Plus, they just look so lush and healthy all along my side bed.
Here's a picture of how it looks now, except now the Clems are growing up the trellis!
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/186427/
That's absolutely beautiful! The oxalis also works so great with the brick.
I just mulch them every spring. They seem to do fine that way. I have tiarella at the foot of one of them but of course it's already a shady place.
The oxalis is gorgeous, but wouldn't survive the winter here. Although I love the idea of something purple... What color are your clems, digigirl?
One is Claire de Lune - white with pale lavender edges and the other is Florida Sieboldii - white with purpley anthers in the middle.
I ran a PF search for you, looking for zone 6a, short perennial grown for foliage to see what purple things popped up. There were more than 100 available, so I know I didn't see everything there is. Stonecrop (sedum) popped up and also Heuchera, which I know comes in a bunch of colors. What about something like that?
I also thought of Wandering Jew and other tradescantias, but I've heard they can be very invasive in some places, but for you it may be the opposite problem - not hardy enough!
Pirl, I'm new at growing Clematis and didn't think through what to plant at the base. I took a transplant from my periwinkle and plante it with my baby Autumn Joy clematis. Will this be bad for the clematis? I'm a little worried about it taking over and thinking I should choose something else. Maybe even an annual or wondering about hardy geraniums.
Also, do you apply uncomposted manure? What kind? How established should the clematis be? Any advice for this clematis' first year in my garden?
Clematis is a new wonder in my gardening world.
It's just my preference not to put a plant at the base of the clematis. I use any composted manure the store sells. Cost doesn't indicate anything except for loss of money you could use on some other garden treat.
'Autumn Joy' is a sedum, as far as I know. Did you mean 'Sweet Autumn'? Maybe there is an 'Autumn Joy' clematis for all I know.
Manure is a very light food so you won't kill any clematis, new or old, by using it. I like a three to four inch layer covering the entire root area so it would be less width for a new clematis and more as time goes on BUT from what I've heard Sweet Autumn does just fine without any special treatment. Some people call it invasive. I just got my first two Sweet Autumns about a month ago and they're still growing downstairs so maybe someone who has more experience could post and help us both by saying how much they feed theirs.
If you or any friend or neighbor up in WA has moss growing you can lift that and pat it into the composted (deodorized) manure and it will take and spread beautifully. That's the only cover I ever give mine. The roots of the moss never penetrate to the roots of the clematis.
Here the roots of the hardy geranium would go too far down and into the clematis roots.
Good luck!
Oops. Yes, I meant Sweet Autumn. I knew that didn't sound right. I do have some Irish Moss. I'll give that a try instead of the periwinkle. I'm planning to try some other varieties of clematis also: Huldine, Kardinal Wyszynski, Andromeda, and two others I can't remember.
I transplanted a Henryi and I think Nelly Moser from my friend's home who is moving. I don't have anything covering their feet right now, but they receive morning light. I was thinking to plant Hosta on either side of them with hopes that the leaves would reach over or provide shade.
I'm realizing what a newby at this I am, and now don't know what plants will companion with them to do that . I have some other ground covers in my garden already: Soapwort, Veronica, Phlox, Lamium, Blue Star. I could use some of those too if one is better than another.
Wish Oaxalis would survive here. Digigirl's pic was beeeautiful!
Thanks for the info Pirl!
The creeping phlox would probably do fine. If those hostas are within a foot of the base of the clematis I'd either move them further away or to a different garden. Hosta roots can get enormous. Have fun with your clematis.
Thanks Pirl. I haven't planted Hosta yet, so I'll not do that and give other ground covers a try.
Either the moss or the phlox will be lovely there and won't take away from the clematis.
I have peonies and iris in front of a lot of my clematis.
Thanks Fancyvan. I would love to hear more about what others have used for shade planting over the roots. I did read from one gentleman who had been growing clematis for years that he planted hosta. I know others plant clematis with shrubs to both provide a growing structure and shade on the roots. This would be an interesting thread.
I would not plant Hosta because they tend to like the shade and my clematis are all in the sun!