Clematis 
  
Are you looking for suitable plants to grow with roses? Here are some beautiful old and new clematis varieties to inspire you. Did you know there are scented clematis? and evergreen species? Read on for news of an appealing new clematis from Japan, bred to be especially suitable for decorative purposes as a cut flower.

This writer has been growing clematis of various sorts since childhood. One of the nicest facts about summer-flowering varieties is that they produce their cheerful blooms just when and where they are most needed. Visitors can gaze at a shower of clematis flowers on a trellis above their heads as they relax in the garden. And the wonderful displays are equally enjoyable during solitary moments. A blackbird with an exceptionally musical voice keeps me company. Do they usually sing all day I wonder - in previous years they sang at dusk.

Clematis - the 'Queen of Climbers'

Now here's a puzzler: in folklore, if clematis is the 'Queen of Climbers', which plant is King of the Climbers? Read on for the name of a possible candidate.

There are types of clematis to suit most gardens - and most situations within gardens - no matter how large or small they might be. Search for varieties in colours that you find pleasing for walls, fences, pergolas, arches, trellis, herbaceous borders and containers.

Provide them with a sunny site and well-drained soil, and choose neutral to alkaline soil rather than acid. It is often said of clematis that they should be planted - Roots in the shade, heads in the sun - and this method of growing them works for me too.

Group 1

Every year I gain greater pleasure from the Alpina, Macropetala and Montana groups of clematis. These small-flowered species and cultivars flower in spring, on shoots that ripened in the previous season. They are often used to hide ugly buildings and wire fences. The Montana group is particularly vigorous and hardy. Clematis montana var. rubens will provide a wonderful show of pink blooms in early spring - 'Tetrarose' is deeper pink.

The less frequently grown C.armandii species is easily recognised by its white, wax-like petals and yellow stamens. Plants thrive best in a south or south-west facing spot. Glossy leaves are evergreen and the scented flowers appear in spring. There is also a pink variety - 'Apple Blossom'.

Also flowering in May are C. alpina 'Pink Flamingo' - white veins on reddish-pink double flowers; C. macropetala 'Markham's Pink' - semi-double blooms followed by silver seedheads. The alpina and macropetala are useful clematis in the garden, as they are fairly tolerant of north and north-east facing locations.

Group 2

Large-flowering cultivars that come into bloom in early or mid season, flowering on stems of the current season - and on flowering stems that shoot from wood ripened in the previous season. Some of these showy varieties are especially suitable for raising in containers for patios or small town gardens. On walls, early flowering types can be made to grow through shrubs. This method is sometimes adopted in order to give large flowers some protection from wind. Examples: C. 'Henryi', 'Nelly Moser', 'The President'.

Group 3

Late-flowering species and cultivars, and the herbaceous types, flower on new stem growth formed during the same season. They are frost hardy. Strong climbers in this group can be trained to grow up into trees, where they will bring colour to the branches, adding to the amount of interest in that part of the garden.

C. 'Jackmanii' is probably the best-known clematis of all, and is eminently right for threading in and out through climbing roses - impressive on a trellis or over an arch. I recall an old C. 'Jackmanii' on a Mews cottage garden fence. Its gnarled tree-thick trunk came to life every summer, weaving masses of leaves and dark purple flowers through the branches of an old pink rose.

C.tangutica - this vigorous, yellow flowering, species can be a bit of a problem if one is unprepared for its rampant growth, but it makes a splendid covering for an unsightly building, fence or wall. Fascinating fluffy seed heads follow on after the flowers, providing further interest. Late- flowering C. orientalis is similarly vigorous with flowers of greenish yellow. I like the blue-mauve, bell-shaped blooms of C. integrifolia. The flowers delight in summer and interesting seedheads follow. Another plant that fascinates is C.rehderiana, an unusual species that never fails to draw comments; it bears smallish bell-like flowers.

New introduction from Thorncroft Clematis Nursery - C. 'Rooguchi' is an absolutely stunning non-climbing, semi-herbaceous cultivar from Japan. It has rich, shiny purple, ribbed bellflowers. Clematis enthusiasts and flower arrangers alike will welcome this cross between C.integrifolia and C.reticulata - bred by Mr Kazushige Ozawa for his cut flower business.

Assorted species and varieties

Clematis 'Arctic Queen' (Evitwoj) is a popular double white - much in evidence at the Hampton Court Palace flower show this year (2001); C. 'Nelly Moser', carmine-striped; C. 'Vyvyan Pennell', double mauve, Group 2; C. 'Henryi' - a magnificent single, creamy-white with dark stamens, Group 2.

A fragrant herbaceous variety, in Group 3, C.heracleifolia 'Wyevale' produces clusters of dark blue flowers. It is not grown as a climber, but as a border perennial. C. x durandii is a purple flowering, semi-herbaceous hardy plant belonging to Group 3; while C. 'Perle d'Azur' is a large-flowering blue late; and C. 'Jackmanii - a purple late.

For a place in half shade, choose late-flowering, large-flowered C. 'Hagley Hybrid'. And finally should the title "King of Climbers" go to C. 'Crimson King'? The large flowers of this cultivar are red with red anthers.

Award-winning clematis nursery

Thorncroft Clematis Nursery, winner of the Newcomers Award at Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2001. You may also find the following address helpful: the British Clematis Society, 2 Gatley Avenue, West Ewell, Surrey.