Clematis: Questions on vine that tolerates cold feet, trails in sun, 1 by lilac58

lilac58 wrote:
I have this huge 12 foot rock in our yard that is quite an unusual rock. On the bank side, I've been working at planting perennials around it, quite a variety, with the stars being some hardy hibiscus. I'm kinda new at this, so I probably planted too much stuff, too close! But I've been reading a lot about it and trying to figure out different combinations.
Anyway, on the side of the rock toward the house, a natural water path comes down the rock, starting about 3 feet from the top, goes under a 4 inch bridge, and then forks into two pathways. The bridge is about 5 feet up. Under the bridge is a place that would work good to plant a plant. It is about 12 inches deep, 8-10" across. I could put soil straight in there. Then the flower would go up about a foot, cascade over the bridge and come tumbling down the rock in the forked pathways! That's what I'm visualizing anyway. I know clematis likes cool feet, and to grow in Sun, but I want something that grows at least 10 feet, and blooms continually after it starts. I thought of Passion Plant, since I have a bunch of little starts, but am not sure that likes shade. Would mandevilla mind the cold feet?

My husband would sometime like to put a water fall there, with a pond below, but I don't see him getting that done for years! And that would be quite the project getting the water pumped up that high. So I'll leave that up to him. I was just trying to make it pretty in the meantime.

Another question. on the other side of the rock, I planted some English Ivy to hopefully grow up and cover the back of the rock. Will the English Ivy cling to the rock without any help? Or do I really want English Ivy. After reading some posts, it seems like some people would call English Ivy a nuisance! I don't want it to choke everything else out. Thanks for your help.