Hi. I'm new here so forgive me if I have posted in the wrong section. I live in Langley, BC and have a Earnest Markham clematis that I have had for a few years. The first few years it bloomed decently but the last 2 years it hasn't at all. I've come to the conclusion that it simply does not get enough sun. It gets 2-3 hours of mid-day sun at best. I have researched on the internet and 2 replacements that seem to require much less sun are the Clematis "Nelly Moser" and the Clematis "Armandii". I do like the fact that they grow on last year's growth. My Earnest Markham has been a pain to train and rip down each year. Opinions please. Melanie p.s. I DO like the evergreen aspect of the Armandii
Since no clematis experts have chipped in, I'll offer my limited experience. I grow a 'Nelly Moser' up an old and quite large lilac. It gets about a half day of sun in the early spring and then most of the plant is in a fair bit of shade as soon as the lilac and surrounding trees leaf out. It seems quite happy there and blooms beautifully in the spring. However, it usually does not rebloom later in the season for me. I don't know if this is because of the increased shade or because it gets too dry in Victoria's droughty summers (the gardener is inclined to be a bit of slacker on the watering front!) I cut it back hard every 3 or 4 years, as, after that length of time, it seems to build up a fair bit of dead vine stems. The flowers are usually a bit later the year after a cut back.
