Clematis cartmanii avalanche

Katrina mg

I am thinking of planting Avalanche to grow up a 6ft. obelisk in the centre of a round rose bed, in the centre of my lawn so it’s in full sun but exposed in the winter, is this a good idea or not. Katrina

Obelixx

No.  When happy, this clematis will get to 3 to 5 metres so, unless you plan to train it metculously in an almost horizontal wind round that obelisk it will hang out at the top and flap all over the place.

http://www.clematis.hull.ac.uk/new-clemdetail.cfm?dbkey=75

You'd be better off with cartmanii "Joe" which you can search for on that same website or else "White Cascade" which also only gets to 2m high.

Katrina mg

Thanks Obelixx, it’s not an obilisk as such but a tuteur 6f tall x 42 inches across the top, so if I wind it round it might be ok, I’m concerned it might suffer in cold winter winds.Katrina

Rubytoo

I think that the one you have chosen is possibly the toughest of the group, afraid I  think cartmannii Joe needs more winter protection if anything.
It may depend where you are. Winter exposure and wet does for them. They need excellent drainage.

We live in the South, I managed Early Sensation on a northwest wall with dry conditions, supplied by foundations. (Unfortunately an old lady crashed her car through the wall. She survived but the clematis did not).

Katrina mg

Thanks Rubytoo, I’ll give it a go and hope for the best. K