Recommend an evergreen Clematis...

LG_

... for this location, please.

I have west-facing fence in a sheltered position which I'd like to clothe with an evergreen Clematis. Nothing too rampant - ideally about 2m in each direction. It's in light shade - ie: little direct sun (none at all over winter & early spring) but far from dark & dank.

I've looked and looked and seen several I like, but can't settle on one, especially as most seem to prefer full sun. In your experience, are there any that would tolerate this spot? Help!

AnniD

There is a very pretty evergreen one called "Joe", but l'm not sure whether it would be suitable. I think most evergreen clematis are pretty tender ?

Astraeus

I think the evergreen clematis need a fairly sunny spot. The one referenced by @AnniD is clematis cartmanii Joe. There is also a cartmanii Early Sensation and Avalanche, but all need full sun. The only evergreen one that I have seen which can tolerate part shade is Emerald Dream. It's available from Taylor's (www.taylorsclematis.co.uk).

Obelixx

The thing about evergreen clems is that they flower in winter or really early in spring and they can't do that without direct sun.

FlyDragon

I've got two Cartmanii Avalanche on my west facing garage wall.  Its their first year but they seem to be doing well, and they are really lovely to look at, the flowers are bigger than most other evergreen clematis.  The flowers opened up a few weeks ago and this picture was taken on Sunday.  Not sure how long they will last but there are new buds ready to open, so fingers crossed they see out May at least!

Fire

If trying any I would go for a cirrhosa. I have a Landsdown Gem in a not hugely sunny, east-facing position. It's non-twining (a bif of a faff), so you have to tie it in. Winter flowering, good for pollinators at that time. They are not particularly big plants, so for a fuller look, plant several together.

Obelixx

Yes, but that cirrhosa gets to 6 metres or more and @LG_ wanted 4 max.  Jingle Bells might be a good one as it isn't as big and can cope with partial shade.

Fire

Obelixx said:

Yes, but that cirrhosa gets to 6 metres or more and @LG_ wanted 4 max.  Jingle Bells might be a good one as it isn't as big and can cope with partial shade.

Taylors says it gets to about 3m (see link), about the same as Jingle Bells. After about four years, mine has reached that.

LG_

Thanks everyone. I realise I'm asking a lot, but I knew there would be suggestions

I do want it to clothe the fence, though don't mind tying it in, so Emerald Dream will be too short. By 'not too rampant' I really mean that there's no scope for an armandii... the space itself is about 3-4m x 2.5m but there's room for it to extend beyond a bit, I just don't want it to swamp some other things. The direct sun thing is the main issue really, but I was hoping that bright but indirect light might be enough for some.

LG_

I have been looking at Jingle Bells and Landsdown Gem, thank you.
Any experience of Winter Beauty, Wisley Cream or Fragrant Oberon?

Obelixx

I use the clematis on the web site to assess clematis as it is academic and not at all commercial and takes its info from many sources.  It says 6m for Lansdowne Gem.   It's rather lovely so I shall keep an eye out for one.  Jingle bells is white flowered so good for a shadier corner - http://clematisontheweb.org/new-clemdetail.cfm?dbkey=127 

I grew a cirrhosa Freckles in my Belgian garden years ago, full sun, good soil but it always struggled with the winter cold and was finally seen off by a severe -32C frost which clobbered nearly all my evergreen shrubs and a lot of spring clems - montana, alpina and macropetala.