I purchased several clematis plants last year and planted them in what I thought would be good locations. As last summer went on, it became apparent that some of the plants were in too much shade during the summer. How much Texas sun can these guys handle in the summer? I thought I was helping them by putting them in shady or semi-shady locations, but it didn't turn out that way. I need to move them and your experiences may help me find more suitable spots for them.
Thanks. Sarah
Anyone growing clematis in NO. Central Texas?
Most of mine get sun until about 3. I think as long as you have something shading their feet, the tops can take the sun. I have some in partial to full shade that do okay also, but you tend to glance over them. Guess I should have planted white ones there.
I do have a Henry Markham in a west facing bed right against the driveway, getting sun almost all day, and he's not real happy. I keep meaning to move him, but he's been there 10 years.
These are Henryi and Ville de Lyon. They are facing south, and start being shaded by the pine trees around 2. I've been bad and haven't planted anything at their feet.
Lynn
Thanks, Lynn. I guess they can take more sun here than I thought. I'll move them to my "sunnier" locations where they will only get sun part of the day. It's that late afternoon sun in the summer that's hard to work with.
I just bought a John Huxtable from Silver Star Vinery. Debbie, who owns the business, says that clems need that shade in the afternoon because of our very hot summers. I also bought two types that do well in shade. Debbie had clems that could take any type of light. Maybe you could go to her website and look through her vines to see if yours are there and then read about what kind of light they need.
Mine get morning sun til about 2pm. Definately plant some annual at it's feet to protect the roots. That is the key, just like Irwells said.
www.silverstarvinery.com is her site. Have fun, if you're like me, you will be drooling by the time your're done. ^_^
Oh, I know Debbie. I got many clems from her last year and they were awesome. I planted most in shady locations because she warned me about our hot summers. But they didn't do well and I'm not sure if it was just because it was their first year here or whether they weren't getting enough sun. Guess I'll try another year, and watch them. Maybe they'll do better this year since they've had a year to settle in.
Thanks for your info.
clems are slow to take off. They don't do much the first year. It's that sleep, creep, leap rule. The first year they sleep. Second year they creep a liitle bit. Then the third year they take off. This is Dr Ruppel's third year and he is off to the races. Buds on him already. I'd wait at least another year like you said.
I have a Dr. Ruppel in its 3rd year too. Its feet is shaded and it does receive some sun. I am hoping it will take off this year. It hasn't sprouted yet and I am worried. Last year it did not grow much; however, it did produce a few blooms. Maybe it needs to be fertilized. Anybody know what kind to use?
This message was edited Mar 5, 2009 9:36 AM
Go to that website I have a few posts up there. There is a care section. I think it's rose, but I'd have to double check.
I just checked the site. There are good instructions on care of clems but no mention of type of fertilizer. I will have to research it.
Don't give up on your Dr Ruppel htop. Last year mine was very slow to do anything. In fact, I ignored it because I had forgotten about it. It threw off some blooms and growth after I fertilized it in Sept. So, fertilizer may be the thing yours needs.
Texasgrower, thanks for the information. Just when I thought it was dead last year, it started sprouting back out so I have my fingers crossed.
I thought my blue lights and pink flamingo were gone. But I pulled away the leaves and whammo, there was new growth. I planted them last fall and thought maybe they hadn't taken before the cold set in.
I have plants that I think are dead every season that surprise me. Last year it was a bougainvilla. It was a stick until May. It was in a pot that I just hadn't gotten around to cleaning out yet. Good thing too. If I had, I would have been throwing away a perfectly healthy bogie. So now I take a wait and see approach.
I've always planted my clematis in part sun, until this one. It is in full southern exposure, with only a few breaks from the sun a day, as the shadows circulate from nearby trees.
It is getting more sun, and more water than it is "supposed to get", and doing great.
'Blue Light'
:0)
I was wondering when you would chime in here Taylor! By the way, the Juanulloa mexicana we traded last year never lost a leaf all winter.
Debbie
=)
hi Deb-
glad to hear it
...I sure have zone envy, sometimes :0)
mine dies back to the ground.
I knew I made a good choice with the blue light. Thanks for posting the pic.
No I haven't. I'm new to clems. I did accidently break a long piece off my Dr Ruppel and cut it into two pieces, dipped it in rooting hormone and stuck it in the dirt. So far so good. Propagating by any other way than seed is a new thing for me. I've had pretty good success so far with surfinias and also rooting mandevillea. Hope the Dr Ruppel will take. I'd like to give it to my daughter. I will try blue lights when it's big enough.
Cocoa-
I haven't tried it, yet. But, I like it so much, I'll definitely be trying some when the new growth stiffens.
-T
I have Nelly Moser in 80% shade, climbing up a climbing iceberg.. The bottom of the plant is in complete shade (this helps alot).
anyone know the best method for taking cuttings on the native clematis pitcherii? I just transplanted mine today.....
Now, those I HAVE rooted, only I usually don't because I have so many from seed, already :0)
I just waited until the new growth stiffened, but before it turned woody, and stuck in in primarily sandy mixture, in part shade.
If I remember correctly that was late Spring, but before the real heat of summer.
If you are needing more pitcheri, I have tons :0)
I hate to move my Nelly Moser, because it's been where it is for a long time, but it's in too much sun. I assume now would be the time to move it?
I would think you'd want to wait until after it finished blooming. All its energy is going to go to blooming, and now might not be the best time, unless you are willing to clip all the buds off, to save energy. It might not be able to produce enough energy to bloom,and survive a transplant shock
Maybe wait until it is done blooming, but before it gets hot?
Thanks Taylor--I have done some from seed too, but gave them all away. They need mostly shade here in the hottest part of summer (July thru end of Sept) so that kind of space used to be limited. My trees have grown a lot in the 16 years I've been here so I hought I'd start one more.
Debbie
Same with us...we have so many mature trees.
I can barely grow anything in the dark :0)