Growing Clematis Up a Tree or Wall

A popular use of clematis is to add colour to plain structures such as walls or fences. Similar planting techniques can also be used to train clematis into trees.

Use a strong cane to lead shoots to main framework

Top of rootball at least 5cm below soil level

Mixture of loam, peat or peat substitute, and bonemeal

Main base roots slightly loosened prior to planting

Line hole base with well-rotted garden compost or manure

Hole width 45cm

Base of plant at least 45cm from base of wall

Hole depth 45cm

Add low growing,shallow rooted, plants to shade roots

Suitable Varieties

To achieve good coverage select more vigorous plants from the "Patio and Garden" section of the catalogue. Pick more vigorous cultivars that grow beyond 2M (e.g. Avante Garde,Galore, Amethyst Beauty, Reflections and Shimmer). Taller cultivars from the Regal® (double) group are also useful (e.g. Josephine). Garland® cultivars may also be used, and flower profusely but, being of thinner foliage, may require a companion plant such as ceanothus. To cover a very large section of a wall or fence i.e. 8M+ extremely vigorous traditional varieties including early flowering montana or later flowering jackmanii can be considered. These may be grown as companions to the longer/repeat flowering forms suggested above.