One important thing you need to know: Clematis climb by wrapping their leaf stems around small things. When roses and clematis weave up a single obelisk, the combination forms a colorful focal point in the landscape. Just make sure you get the planting soil and depth right and keep them watered and fed regularly. Have a look at this site and research flower colours, flowering periods and also a suitable height for your obelisks. Some will have latticework at the bottom to give the new babies the jump-start they need, but others, like the one pictured, need wire or netting to fill in the gaps between the supports provided by the obelisk. Thanks in advance. The easiest are the Clematis viticella hybrids. You just canât have enough clematis. I have just used Taylors Clematis mail order and was delighted. Thus, they will NOT climb a building - or a rock wall - unless you provide something for them to wrap those leaves around. http://www.clematis.hull.ac.uk/new-clemlistsearch.cfm. Garden obelisks are spire-like trellises made of wood or metal. If anyone can suggest 2 colours/ varieties. The name clematis is derived from the Greek word "klema," which has the meaning "flexible shoot." Also, wire works well when growing a climber against a building, as long as the wire is spaced away from the building. It is a flexible plant, and can be grown in many environments, including in containers. Arbors and pergolas are both garden structures tall enough to walk under; add a bench or chair and they are often used as a place to sit. Donât worry; we're here for both of you to offer the support you need! Like the look of the Arabella but worry as it states non clingy, won't I have problems getting it to furl around my metal obelisk. The evergreen clems tend to flower in winter or early spring and then look dull the rest of the year so need to be planted as a backdrop to other plants that carry on the display the rest of the year. Hi all. The difference between them is one of scale; think of an arbor as a doorway and a pergola as a hall. They do not cling, like Boston Ivy or Trumpet Vine do. "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." Both provide excellent space to grow climbing plants. Fortunately, this is easily overcome by adding a bit of bird setting or wire between the ground and the first horizontal rung on the structure. Hi all. Also, despite the wishes of many of our customers, you cannot grow a clematis up each side of the obelisk! There is no need for anything else to stabilize them and they are elegant solutions for people who are already growing clematis on their porch railings, fences, mailboxes, houses and neighbors-who-stood-still-too-long. There are smaller clems with a longer flowering period that will be far better suited to obelisks. http://www.clematis.hull.ac.uk/new-clemlistsearch.cfm, http://www.clematis.hull.ac.uk/new-clemdetail.cfm?dbkey=110. I have 2 metal obelisk and I quite fancy putting climbers in the pot. Montanas are beautiful for a couple of weeks in spring but tend to need a whole house or lots of trellis or a long pergola as they are so vigorous. This explains the ability of the European clematis plant (Clematis vitalba) to grow along the edges of rockeries, woodlands, crevices, hedges, and more. Also, despite the wishes of many of our customers, you cannot grow a clematis up each side of the obelisk! I quite fancy clematis as they are so showy but worried about the length of flowering time and pruning. I have tried looking at the link given but my iPhone struggles to load the searches, Red - they have bred clematis specially for pots too - think they are called patio clematis or boulevard series. The obelisk stands about 5ft tall. Planting next to walls can also reflect extra heat so be careful that the soil is never allowed to dry out. Mine is planted in good soil in a hot, sunny bed and scrambles happily through a purple leaved cotinus. Am I too late to plant?? Wire is more easily seen, but is also sturdier. Plant clematis, still attached to their cane, at a 45-degree angle from the host tree or shrub to help direct growth. There are plenty of options, and neither you nor your clematis need to suffer anymore. Really big plants for £8-10. We’re borrowing it from our children. The clematis ranged from 6.99-23 pounds yesterday so I need to get it right. Expect them to take a year or so to settle in and start really performing well. We often add bird netting or chicken wire to arbors and other structures to make sure there is plenty for clematis to grab! I have 2 metal obelisk and I quite fancy putting climbers in the pot. Several of our customers have planted clematis at the base of rock walls so they could climb the walls and cover the rocks. Clematis are hungry and thirsty plants with lots of thick, fleshy roots so your pots will need to be deep enought to let their roots grow and have access to plenty of food and water which will mean frequent waterings and feeding over the growing season. It's also very hardy and copes with seriously cold winters. The obvious benefit to arbors and pergolas is that they are free-standing. I'm looking for something that may be evergreen and long showy flowering season without having to have too much over winter care. For those who prefer the three-dimensional look for their beauties, or who just donât have as much space, an obelisk a great choice. I do fancy the type I have to prune right back as I don't like dead twiggy look over winter. If anyone can suggest 2 colours/ varieties. Too many lovely ladies in too small a space and everyone suffers! You understood you no longer had control the day you found a new variety, had no place to put her and bought her anyway. Never let them dry out but don't let them sit in a puddle either. This allows the clematis to grow up both sides for better grip and allows better air circulation. Arbors are often (although not always) arched on top while pergolas are usually flat. They grow quickly and flower from midsummer to autumn. A freestanding obelisk-style support is also an option: Freestanding Garden Obelisk | Amazon. Baby clemtis may also need extra support added to an obelisk. i saw some stunning clematis today and walked away in favour of asking everyone here, how I managed it I will never know. These are simply cut back to 30cm, 1ft above the ground in late winter and all last year’s growth is pulled away. It does require support however: you'll need something to attach it to, and you will need to staple or otherwise fasten it every few inches to prevent it collapsing under the weight of a full-grown Clematis. 4 Know Your Pruning Group. I love it and it does flower for a long time. Very friendly people too - i'm sure they would be happy to advise if you gave them a ring. I have this planted in the ground with an obelisk on top... it's one of the longest flowering Clematis there are, so I believe... some might find it a bit dark, and the flowers on the small side.....it's also a bit short..maybe 4 - 5 foot...there are taller types... have a look and see what you think... My Arabella is lilac/mauve and is supposed to get to 2 metres - http://www.clematis.hull.ac.uk/new-clemdetail.cfm?dbkey=110 but I find that with each successive year it gts a bit bigger and produces more and more flowering stems that sprawl about as it is not self clinging. The obelisk stands about 5ft tall. Youâve finally admitted it: you have a problem. I underplant with Geranium 'Cambridge'... as with all clematis I watch out for snails at this time of year.... Log in or register to join the conversation. This is an excellent idea, as long as you provide something for the plants to cling to - wire is the ideal choice here, as it is less apt to wear out from rubbing on the rocks. Imagine kittens trying to make their way up a steep set of stairs! The beauty of bird netting is that it is nearly invisible. No. Second, while some arbors may have lots of small, decorative dodads for clematis to cling to, others will not. We did not inherit the earth from our grandparents.