Based on the display of these two and an adjacent clematis, and the number of buds on many more, I wondered if this year was turning out to be an especially good year for them – but when checking previous posts to remind me of the name of one of them I found I had posted equally floriferous pictures last year, albeit about three weeks later, so perhaps not.
Above we have C viticella ‘Rosalyn’ on the left and ‘Margot Koster’ on the right, the former seeming to create a curtain of colour as it hangs down from its support. I am particularly fond of ‘Rosalyn’, with her scruffy and unconventional blooms:
There are four viticella clematis along this pergola, all visible and readily admirable from our kitchen windows. The blooms on ‘Margot Koster'(below) are bigger and brighter, as are those of the more familiar ‘Madame Julia Correvan’ to her right:
‘Walenberg’, the fourth clematis on this structure, seems to have had a setback and sports only the tiniest of shoots, but is still alive.
Facing this pergola is another, smaller one, attached to the left hand side of the sitooterie, supporting climbing rose ‘Claire Austin’ and Clematis viticella ‘Blue Angel’. The latter was new for last season and although not quite flowering yet she has romped over the pergola and is covered in buds – she also needs tying in, again!
Further down the garden, the Golfer has kindly made some trellis to fit either side of the mirror under the clematis colonnade. Despite still having homes to find for some of the mystery clematis, I decided to move two existing ones instead – ‘Princess Kate’ was sharing a post with ‘Prince George’, whilst ‘Prince William’ was a new acquisition which had been allocated a spot nearby but not on the colonnade itself. Only planted a few weeks ago, the latter would be easy to move, but the former could be more risky.
I had already established that Kate’s new growth was not highly entwined on its support but, having been in situ for three or four years, digging her out could be more problematical and clematis stems are always fragile. However, with a more or less complete rootball and three lengthy stems still intact, the move proved to be surprisingly successful, although the droopy buds later in the day were a concern, largely rectified by a cooler evening and a good watering. There are no buds on William yet, but I don’t doubt that he will be in flower later, beside his wife (both C texensis).
I am sure Kate will be happier here, and in hindsight it was a mistake to have two summer flowering clematis on the same post, especially as Prince George really makes his presence felt, clothing the post with dense foliage which will be smothered in large and attractive ruffled white blooms in due course, as you can surmise from the photo below:
That’s my six (or thereabouts) this Saturday, and if you visit the blog of our SoS host Jon the Propagator you will find many more sixes from around the world.
They all seem very happy to climb where ever they can grab hold. Beautiful.
Not quite as easy as that, Beverley, as they do appreciate watering and feeding which I probably didn’t do much of in the past, but try harder with it these days!
Oh, it does look like it’s a good year for them! Yours are lovely!
Thanks Beth
Your clematis are stunning, they are certainly having a good year! You have made me realise that my clematis on the pergola are now in too much shade so I must do something about it, like move some shrubs that are causing all the shade, a job for the autumn/winter I think!
And it occurred to me only yesterday that these three stunning clematis face south and get far more sun than any of the others
Those royals are a unruly bunch. Good job you can sort them out 😉
Haha, I try! Queen Mother, however, is quite well behaved 😉
Your lovely clematis supports make such a beautiful backdrop for the flowers!
Yes, the Golfer is a handy thing to have around 😉
Does Kate get cut back in spring or do you leave her alone? I have a young one, which I did cut back this year, but not sure whether to just give her a trim after she flowers. Yours are stunning, as are those supports.
Yes, she’s a Group 3 and is cut right back in spring, but you can tidy it up before that, down to 3 or 4 feet if you want, which I usually do. I am blessed to have the Golfer to make whatever wooden structures I want in the garden – made to measure and to my design!
Every home should have a ‘Golfer’ and thank you for the info. My ‘Charles’ has just begun to flower today 🙂
I don’t have Charles, but somehow think perhaps I should as I do have his ex-wife and grandmother 😉
🤣
These sorts of clematis are enviable. There are four (or perhaps three now) at work that happen to do well in the spring, but do not last into summer. They dislike aridity.
And in the UK we have spring, summer and winter flowering ones, each to their own season
Some of the similar cultivars may be available here or online, but none of them really like the climate. They either bloom in spring while they can, or they do not get to bloom at all. Other species that do not mind the climate so much can bloom when they prefer to.
Interesting to hear that your clematis are perhaps further ahead in flower this year Cathy. I love the looks of ‘Margot Koster’. My ‘Blue Angel’ has a handful of flowers’ …… just 😄
And my Blue Angel is just beginning to open in today’s sunshine 🙂
i do think the wet winter followed by all that sunshine has prompted good growth this year, my clems are doing quite well for the most part. i have blue angel, it didn’t do much last year, just a few flowers, but is fabulous this year, more to do with its age than the conditions in this case. definitely a keeper!
Yes, you are probably right about the benefits of the rain earlier on – and with our extended water supply they have generally been kept well-watered in drier spells which they wouldn’t have done in the past. Hope your irrigation is working well for you