To Clematis or Not to Clematis?

I have never grown a clematis but I really like what I've seen and read about them. Some of the pictures posted here on DG are so beautiful. I was hoping to add a little color to this location so I thought I'd try one alongside / growing into this plant. The clematis would get morning sun and afternoon shade. In July-August, it gets very warm, -- ok kinda hot -- from about 10-12. The rest of the year, it is pretty mild.

First, will a clematis even grow in my zone? Would the roots of the other plant be a problem? It's pretty established.

Is there any particular type (I, II,?) that would be better to grow in this location? I seem to like to prune things. I don't mind taking time with it.

Variety suggestions? There are so many pretty ones, it's hard to choose. I like the jackmanii and Franzsiska Marie. The colors seem like they would go well with the Thai basil there on the right.

What time of year is best to plant? Should I go mail order or try to find one locally?

Any guideance from you clemmy experts would be greatly appreciated!

T-

For you in California..I would imagine you can plant when your early spring arrives...I can plant here in my Zone 8b in early March ...I find that being in a warmer zone..mine do best with morning sun and afternoon shade...remember they don't like to dry out and to keep their roots moist like they like..I plant mine deeper to ensure this....I would think your best choice would be one of the Viticellas/hard prune type 3's..they are vigorous and almost fault proof ..an excellent choice for a beginner..Clematis "Jackmanii" is a three and purple..if you are into pink...maybe you'd enjoy having Clematis "Comtesse de Bouchard"..she is a stunner and vigorous grower in my garden and what a bloomer she is....Jeanne
ps..I know an online gardening bud that is growing 3's as I told you in Phoenix Arizona..talk about dry..but he waters well and grows them in morning sun only...

Wow Jeanne, Comtesse is a beaut! All those flowers! I'd be really happy if I could get something like that in this location. How old is that plant? How long did it take to start blooming? Do you feed it often?

Fault proof sounds good for my first one and this is a very visible location. I'll study up on the Viticellas/hard prune type 3's to see what the options are now that I know they are easier. This really helps to narrow down things a bit.

I can keep the roots moist and probably somewhat cooler in this location, although the leaves themselves will get a little toasty during the peak of summer. Sounds like March may be a good time for me to plant as well.

Thanks for the advice!
:)
T-

TLeaves:

You've got a fabulous place in Northern California called Chalk Hill Clematis Nursery. Take a look. They are fabulous! http://www.chalkhillclematis.com/

Excellent site Shirl! Thanks for the tip. Lots of different ways to search and great pictures! I just love the picture with the vase & clemmys on the home page. They are so graceful.

TLeaves...you are like me ..living in warmer zones ..we can get 3 ..sometimes 4 bloom periods from the Viticellas because they bloom on new vines...I fertilize with 13-13-13 when I hard prune mine on Feb. 14th and water well..then when their blooms are over...I hard prune and fertilize again..and so on and so on until fall...that's the magic with 3s for us..people in colder zones don't have long enough growing season to do that...You are aware you have your own native California Clematis?? Clematis Ligustricifolia...which seems to like it a bit drier!!
http://www.swcoloradowildflowers.com/White%20Enlarged%20Photo%20Pages/clematis%20ligusticifolia.htm
My Comtesse is now 3 years old...that pic was from last year when she was just a 2 year old baby...they only get better with age....Jeanne

Wow 3-4 blooms a year. So you only fertilize after they bloom when you prune. Do you also deadhead? I would be totally thrilled with multiple blooms a year.

What a happy mom you must be. I had heard that Clemmys were slow to get started. It seems yours has done well in a really short time. When do you expect to see the first blooms this year?

T-

Yes Clematis usually take a good 3 years before they mature but viticellas are more vigorous than the Pruning Group 2's...NEVER fertilize once they start to set buds for you will only rush the bloom period..you only fertilize when you prune and for the group 2's you fertilize in late winter/early Spring and then AFTER they have bloomed for they will bloom again later in the season..I feed mine Alfalfa Tea which I attribute to them taking off well...I usually see my first blooms in early Spring on my Montanas and the viticellas soon after...I actually have blooms on my Florida Alba right now which is rare for January but this has been a mild winter until now which it is 31 degrees...brrrrrrrrrrr....

Sounds like you are having the weather that just went through here. We've finally warmed up a bit, but the local citris farmers are feeling the pain. It hasn't been that cold here in about 20 years.

Do you know what group Niobe is in? The Niobe color would go well with one area I'm looking to put one. Do you make your own Alfalfa Tea or can you buy it?

Clematis Niobe is a pruning group 2..
http://www.clematis.hull.ac.uk/new-clemdetail.cfm?dbkey=27
You will love COTW aka Clematis on the Web...you can click on search and click on color and pruning group and check..if you love Niobe then you might like Clematis Royal Velours

http://www.clematis.hull.ac.uk/new-clemdetail.cfm?dbkey=582
to search just put in deep reddish purple and pruning group 3...
I make my own Alfalfa Tea...Just go to the Local Feed store and buy a bag of Alfalfa Pellets which is nothing but cattle feed...I get a 50 lb bag for 11 bucks...take a 5 gallon bucket and put in 4 cups of Alfalfa Pellets and fill up the bucket..have it sitting in the sun..stir daily and when it starts to stink add 4 cups of Epsom salts and stir well and I put one cup on each clematis...same thing with my Roses and two on my Climbing Roses...
Bummer about the Citrus growers..I just brought in all my ripened lemons last Saturday and my Bell Peppers...I now have icicles hanging..boohoo

COTW is a great site. I was able to use it to look up a list of some varieties that are supposed to grow here to see what they looked like. Victoria is my favorite 3 on the list.

Hey, thanks for the recipe! I didn't think about the pellets. About how long does it take to sink? Can you use it immediately after you add the Epsom salts or does that need to 'cook' in the sun awhile too?

Sorry to hear about your icicles. I brought my lemon in during the freeze, but now that it's back out it is loosing leaves. It's a young plant that I got last summer. I hope it's okay since lemons are likely to be sparce this year.

It takes about 5-7 days to stink...once you add your Epsom salts..you stir well and it's ready to use then..the Epsom salts melts immediately...When my Bucket gets half way down..I just add more water and stir...remember to stir each time before using as the pellets have turned to mush at the bottom of your bucket....Glad you enjoyed COTW..it's a wonderful site...I can't believe that ice hasn't seemed to bother anything..my roses are still blooming and my allysum didn't turn to mush but loved the cold...I did cover my Begonias tho!!...Jeanne