Horizontal clematis

peteS

I was just wondering if anyone has ever grown clematis horizontal rather than vertical. I've just bought a small Rouge Cardinal, which is a group 3 type with a height of 3 metres. For this summer at least, due to lack of vertical space, I thought I would try it scrambling through a mixed border, made up of roses and other perennials horizontally.

hogweed

The Beechgrove did a bit on that with Chris Beardshaw a couple of years ago. I have grown clematis through roses before. 

Guernsey Donkey2

Although not strictly horizontal or vertical this Montana clematis which will grow a few metres tall, has been wound backwards and forwards along this trellis looping it in and out of each square so horizontal as well as vertical.  It is now double or triple in size (this picture was taken last year) and is still growing at an alarming rate and I am still winding it in and out of the trellis.  I don't see why you can't let your clematis grow horizontally @peter straw2 although you may find it outgrows your border. Let us know how it progresses.

cornelly

We have one, don't no the name that scrambles with our help up through honeysuckle, a blue flower.

K67

I've always used herbaceous clematis as they don't twine around anything and you can lay them over shrubs etc, tying them in if necessary. Your group 3 needs to be cut down in spring and untangling the dead wood can be awkward but I would certainly give it a go!

Lizzie27

I'm trying a similar scheme with C. 'Princess of Wales' over or through! a white Potentilla 'Abbotswood'. Looks really good so far, although I had forgotten about the poppy 'Patty's Plum' next door (the colours don't really go well to my mind, but the poppy's now gone over).