I have an area against a fence/trellis where I'd like to put a clematis. In the summertime, it gets full sunshine all day starting about halfway up the 5.5' fence, with dappled to full shade towards the bottom of the fence. I thought this would be an ideal spot (to keep the clematis "feet" cool). However, I notice that at this time of year, the top of the fence doesn't get direct sunlight all day. There are a few hours during the afternoon where the sun is behind some neighbour's trees until about 5, due to the sun's lower angle. Will this be ok for a clematis? It is basically the hottest part of these cool days where the sun is behind the trees. Or, alternatively, is there another climbing vine that would do well/better in the Surrey, BC (zone 8a) area for these light conditions? Thanks.
Here the native clematis haves cool feet on the forest floor and climb up to the light. To me it sounds fine where you want to put it. Just give it a good mulchy growing spot. http://www.heyne.com.au/gardencentre/factsheets/factsheet.php/Clematis.htm Liz
Hello I "was" new to Clematis and grow them since 3 years. I put them on Arches over garden walkpath that get the feet later in the sun then the top. I have noticed as liz says that they shot to the top of the arches and seem to want to go ONLY UP I also had to learn the hard way that some die down completly and some keep the branches and shoot new leaves on top right away. To counter than I "TRY" to push it downwards through the trellis BUT beware they brake very easely. The Clematis ROYAL seems to be the most fragil of all . I replaced it 2x and it died each winter.