clematis

Janie B

I have a Niobe clematis (group 2) planted on a frame in a flower bed. When the flowers have died (i.e. now) it looks a bit dull. Would I be able to plant another clematis alongside it to use the same frame, so that I can have colour for longer? Maybe something like a Princess Diana or a Princess Kate (group 3) that I have elsewhere, that are flowering profusely...  

Fairygirl

Only if you have loads of room for another one, and the right conditions for them both.
If the trellis/frame is any smaller than around  4 or 5 feet square, there isn't enough room to plant another, in my opinion. More plants - more competition for  nutrients and moisture.
Mine is still flowering heavily - is yours a young, small plant? They flower for ages.

Janie B

Thanks for that @Fairygirl, yes, it's a young plant, only planted it last year... Maybe I'll leave it another year to see how it does next year... patience, isn't that what they say is the gardener's best friend...? 

ZeroZero1

In my experience different clematis have widely different habits. I have about 10 different varieties some are totally dominant (e.g montanta) others are very fragile and cant compete (e.g aromatica) If you already the varieties you will be the best judge. They are really diverse

Fairygirl

Niobe takes a good few years to get mature - as do many of them. 
Patience indeed Janie 
Mine is about four years old now - from a smallish plant in a four inch pot at that time, and potted on until big enough to plant out.  This was taken about a month ago when it  had just started flowering. It's on both sides of that screen [bordering my tiny pond] and covers a good few square feet, although I let her scramble through some other planting. One of my favourite clems

Fire

FG, do you treat her like a group  three?

Janie B

Yes, I was just going to ask how you prune her, @Fairygirl

Janie B

PS She looks stunning! Not gonna post a pic of my weedling...!

Fairygirl

Yes - I prune back to about eighteen inches. Around the end of March - it's a better time of year here to do it. Bit of blood, fish and bone [ if I remember! ] and plenty of water [ not usually needed here ] and that's about it. I deadhead if I have time and can be bothered, mainly because it's next to the wee pond 
Trust me Janie - mine was very small too when I bought it. Found this pic of when it was put in the ground in September 2014. You can see that it's not very big  

Fire

" it's next to the wee pond"

The mind boggles.

Fairygirl

It's ok Fire - 'wee' as in small not 'wee' as in...well...wee...