Scrambling Clematis

Valley Gardener

I recently purchased Arabella,without looking at instructions!! Originally wanted to get clems growing up the dry stone wall! However,I now read that this one has a scrambling habit! Will it climb the wall or will I be best to let it go on the ground over tree stumps and bird table etc??   Help!!

Obelixx

It doesn't have tendrils so won't climb by itself.   You need to give it a framework of wires or mesh.   You could try attaching some of that galvanised square mesh for sheep pens and so on to your wall.  it would be practically invisible and cheap and then you just guide the Arabella along, twining here and there and tying in occasionally to give her the idea.

Dovefromabove

Let it ramble and scramble ... it won't climb as it's leaf stems won't behave like tendrils the way some clematis leaf stems do.  Cut hard back in early spring every year.  
I'm growing some herbacious type clems from seed, with the plan to let them scramble and drape themselves over our Shady Bank. 

Obelixx

It depends what else is there.  I had one that I half guided up a cotinus and half left to scramble as it increased in vigour each year.  The scambled parts started to get lost in all the physostegia, geraniums, peonies and shasta daisies around that spot.  If it's to be the only ground cover it would give a better show without the competition but if it's to cover the wall, it needs help.

Valley Gardener

Thank you both so much! That will teach me to read first!! I think I can incorporate both the wall and bank with a bit of wire help! It's growing like mad in its pot,so needs to be dealt with asap!
Thank you😀

Obelixx

Enjoy.  It's a lovely clem.   Dove's bank scrambling idea is good and something I have in mind as a possibility for a bank here but first I have to get the Beth Chatto dry garden started and that's way down my list at the mo.