I don't have any Montanas, but I've read that they can be a problem sometimes because they get so big and are so vigorous. I'm looking at Chalk Hill's sale (even though I REALLY shouldn't spend any money), and they have a Montana called Jacqui. It's very pretty and it says it's scented. I've been looking for some good scented things to put in my garden for a while. It says this one grows 20-25 feet. I've also been thinking about putting a vine on my tree in my front yard.
Can anyone relate any experience with this type of setup? Can you grow a Montana up a tree? Will it cling by itself? Will it get all scraggly looking halfway through the season (it's listed as "no prune") or get wilt and look dead most of the time? Will it choke and kill my tree?
Any comments on Montanas in general or Jacqui in particular?
Question on Montanas
I have two Montanas and they've grown pretty slowly so I don't have experience with them getting out of hand. They've only been in for 5 years. The foliage is beautiful and stays here except for about 2 months of the year right before blooming. I keep mine trimmed throughout the summer as it's draped over a rod underneath the eaves of my patio. I don't know anything about that particular cultivar though.
Yes, Montana's are PERFECT for growing up a tree! You would need to put chicken wire or some structure so it can get started climbing your tree. If it starts to look scraggly, plant tall perennials around your tree, as well as, medium size annuals for a constant show of color. Since I don't know what type of tree you are referring to, I don't know if the Montana would be to large for it. You would need a substantial sized tree to support a Montana that grows 25-30ft tall.
My son just purchased 2 Montana "Elizabeth's" (on sale at Chalk Hill) for my birthday in Nov. I'm planning to grow it over a large arch with climbing Rose, "Reve d'Or" and Clematis, "Rouge Cardinal". I'm not familiar with "Jacqui", because I think it is the first time it has been offered in the U.S.
i think the fragrance is better if it is planted in full sun. i can not grow them in my zone, but i rememeber this from a clematis lecture i went to in calif.
My Reubens is 'fragrant' but you can only smell it if you put your nose into a flower that is in full sun. I don't know about your cultivar.
Digi..the main thing when planting a Montana in our zone is to make sure that the spot you chose won't get too wet during winter..that is the main culprit that kills Montanas..they can take much more drier conditions that the other clematis and prefer it ..especially during winter..they can rot...Jeanne
Thanks for all the great info. I won't be getting this one just now as my boyfriend just lost his job, so all shopping is at a dead stop. But perhaps next year sometime, so still great info to have. Thanks!
Ohhhhhhhh..I am so sorry he lost his job..I hope he finds another one soon..sometimes things happen for a reason and something MUCH BETTER is ahead for him...Goodluck...Jeanne
That is to bad. I'm so sorry. And I join Jeanne in hoping that he gets another job soon.
Thanks y'all. We're hoping so, too! Just trying to be careful in the meantime.
I have had that experience before - lost one job and then got a MUCH better one, so hopefully that will be the case for him, too. Thanks for the good wishes!