Clematis Armandii

RedSquirrelAbroad

I bought a Clematis Armandii Apple Blossom on impulse because it looked so lovely, without doing my research. Now I realise it grows really big and I don’t have a lot of space for it. Can I cut it back hard each year to keep it in check, or should I give it to someone with a bigger garden?! It could serve as a good screen for hiding my neighbour’s hideous orange shed, but the space available is only about 2 m high by 3 m wide...

Borderline

Once it establishes its form you will need to thin them out every year. It is worth it if you want evergreen foliage. I personally think the size of the leaves to the area you are using it to cover will not look right. The leaves are quite long and big, but others might hold a different opinion. 

RedSquirrelAbroad

Thanks for your comment @Borderline. I think the space is probably too small for it. There is another option, to plant against a south-facing wall, there are other climbers there but no evergreens. I just don’t want it to get monstrously big, but if it can be cut back every year to keep in check it might be the best place for it. 

Borderline

I would try it on the wall with no evergreen growth. Once they have established into the frame-work you have for it, you can just prune them back to how you want it to grow. It would be a shame to get rid of it.