Clematis ‘Jackmanii’
The garden’s two Clematis have done well this spring. This Clematis ‘Jackmanii’ along the southern side path was the first one I ever planted. Last summer I cut it all the way back to the ground after the leaves all turned brown (per The Gardeners World’s Monte Don’s instruction for treating clematis wilt).
Clematis ‘Jackmanii’
Over time I have attempted more clematis but they haven’t survived the first years. Finally in 2015 I discovered this red one at my local garden center, Clematis ‘Niobe’.
Clematis ‘Niobe’
Clematis ‘Niobe’
It has never bloomed all summer as advertised but in spring it usually shows such promise.
Clematis ‘Niobe’
Last month I added three more clematis around one single trellis. There’s another Clematis ‘Jackmanii’, Clematis ‘Multi Blue’, and Clematis ‘Duchess of Edinburgh’ planted April 4, 2021. So far the rabbits have not gotten them (but they are munching dalhias and phlox).
Will I regret not allowing more room?
clockwise from top: Clematis ‘Jackmanii’, Clematis ‘Multi Blue’ and Clematis ‘Duchess of Edinburgh’ (clockwise from top)
pbmGarden 
They’ve lovely, Susie. I should follow your example and persevere in seeking out more Clematis. Sweet autumn Clematis (C. terniflora) is the only one I’ve grown successfully in both my former and current gardens but friends of mine here in SoCal have grown many more.
Many gardens here have one clematis but I have only read about gardens with many. Unfortunately Sweet autumn Clematis (C. terniflora) is considered invasive here so I can’t use that one. I know people who grow it and it’s lovely.
Beautiful plants! My Clematis is just about ready to bloom, and it’s definitely a lovely time in the garden. 🙂
Hope your clematis makes a good showing this season Beth. It’s turned cold here again today but still lovely time as you say.
Bravo for your bravery! I killed many Clematis in Atlanta except Armandii and Sweet Autumn – fingers crossed.
There aren’t warnings about clematis being difficult to grow but glad I’m in good company Amy!
They are famous for dying in Atlanta.. there’s a fungal thing that gets them
This jackmanii has fungus. I cut it back all the way down to ground last summer. Maybe it’ll help.
I love Clematis, and these two are beauties.
Thanks Judy. I’m hoping these new ones will do well.
Lovely clematis! I grew Niobe once-upon-a-time and loved it, but it’s the only one I have grown. It succumbed eventually to lawn mower damage (not by me!). I think your trellis planting is a wonderful idea, especially Duchess of Edinburgh, which I’ve admired in pictures.
A shame about your Niobe, Amy. I once witnessed the pain and disappointment on my aunt’s face when she discovered her grown son had done a good deed by mowing her lawn but had inadvertently cut her fully blooming clematis loose from the ground. It was a moment of sadness for sure!
Clematis need to have cool, shady feet with their heads in the sun, which isn’t all that easy to create (I use ferns for shade), but once they find their sweet spot, they are marvelous. I have three large ones, but it is the two with smaller blooms (C. integrifolia) that I find charming.
I’ll look for the type with smaller blooms Eliza. Thanks for the tip.
I just remembered that there are clematis that are better adapted to southern climates, so you might google search that category.
Great idea Eliza. I should have done so before ordering these new ones.
Clematis are so useful in every garden- essential elements in fact. We have over 40 in our quarter acre plot and love them all.
I need to go back and search your blog for clematis. You and Jude have packed so many wonderful plants into your beautiful garden.
These are so lovely. I am a late convert to planting clematis everywhere!
Thank you! I’ve never had much for clematis to climb upon but I think I need to be more imaginative!
Jackmnii is a favorite. We also have Multi Blue. I like that red Niobe a lot. Judy and I have been watching old Monty Don episodes almost every night.
Niobe is nice but quits blooming here as soon as it gets hot. We’re having an unusually cool spring (48F today) and it’s made a lot of flowers last longer. The Gardeners World shows are great.
I also have planted several Clematis over the years but they rarely last or don’t flower for long. I think our summers are too hot for summer flowering. The Duchess of Edinburgh is a lovely one though which I now have on one of my obelisks too.
Looking forward to seeing Duchess of Edinburgh in flower and it will remind me of you!
Your ‘Jackmanii’ and ‘Niobe’ are lovely. I thought I read (could be wrong) that the viticella hybrids (‘Etoile Violette’, ‘Polish Spirit’, etc) don’t or rarely get Clematis Wilt. Perhaps because the viticellas get cut to the ground every year anyway? None of my viticellas have ever gotten it. The rabbits here will bite off the emerging new growth, but the rabbits here are not fussy! 😦
Thanks for the info on viticella hybrids. I didn’t research before I ordered these new ones. Ordered lots of plants over the winter as “therapy.”
I hope they prove to be reliable for you Susie – your post demonstrates just how ‘lucky’ we are in the UK as I must have over 30 in my garden!
I’ve been inspired by your clematis, Cathy, but didn’t realize you have so many. I have killed more than have survived and they’re rather expensive I think. I will look for some different types perhaps.
Such a shame they are not reliable in your part of the world. I counted and listed mine before our last opening as I would have no idea how many there were – on checking, I fid it is probably nearer 50 in total!! I have visited local (private) gardens where there can be over 100!
Fifty! Wow, I do admire that. Clematis may be more reliable in the garden here than I am as a gardener. I’ll keep looking for new ones to try.
The alpina and viticella clematis tend to be very reliable here – apart from the former, almost all of mine are viticella
I checked and at least one plant is. I probably still have some old seed though and have found lychnis seed stays viable for a few years