Buying Clematis Online

harmony

As I cannot get to a garden centre I would appreciate any advice on buying a clematis online. It is to grow up the branches of a dead berberris which is s/w facing and is only maybe 6/7ft tall so it needs to be fairly  compact and long flowering if possible ( summertime ) . So I'm looking for recommendations for type and where to buy a clematis that is established can go straight in the ground.  Looking forward to your expert advice. . Thankyou..

punkdoc

Look through Taylors and Thorncroft catalogues on line, they will show a huge range of Clematis, including their heights.
Both are excellent.

Rubytoo

I am not promoting Taylors. We have bought from them in the past.
I just happen to be looking and I guess you might want the longest flowering periods possible?

I was looking at C. tangutica "Helios" as supposedly long flowering  (June to October).
https://www.taylorsclematis.co.uk/clematis-helios.html
They also say it is a compact tangutica.
Normally they are not known as a compact type. So maybe someone else here can confirm or deny.
But on the link they state this one is 6-8 ft.

It is also a group 3. This means at the end of the season you can tidy it up or leave it until late February/March.  So even if it really likes you it will be manageable.
The group 3 flower on new growth made each year.

Also for another I just looked at and think they might look nice together.
Same supposedly flowering time and treatment.
https://www.taylorsclematis.co.uk/clematis-pistachio.html

I was going to suggest a pretty one called Pagoda, which is also a group 3. We have grown it for years and it is a lovely well behaved and very pretty flower shape and colour.

(If you buy online from companies like the above it is often worth buying at least two plants to get the best out of the postage)
 I know, I know, get thee behind me Satan.....

I only suggested the above as I am looking for bang for buck and the above combination to go in a white/yellow bed.

Fairygirl

I agree with @punkdoc - both are very reliable and will only deliver plants that are garden ready. Another is Hawthornes. Richard used to post on here but I've not seen him for a while. I bought a clem from him last year. 
Unless the ground is suitable for a Group 2 or 3, which need plenty of moisture, it might be better to look at the early flowering Group 1 alpinas, macropetalas etc, although they're spring rather than summer flowering. They don't need the same conditions as the later, large flowering types, and you often get a 2nd flush if they come into flower early enough where you are.
If you want summer flowering, you'll need to ensure the ground is suitable, so you may need to beef that up considerably, and make sure it's very well watered. There's a lot of competition there with the other planting. 

harmony

Thanks all, I will look at these companies...

Rubytoo

That's good points about the soil @Fairygirl.
The tanguticas are I think possibly finer rooted like the spring ones so may not do so well if wet.
Also just a quick note of a change of name
https://www.clematisontheweb.org/new-clemdetail.cfm?dbkey=509

harmony

Thanks for the links Rubytoo  very helpful

Marlorena

No leaf tendril clematis of suitable proportions will cling to that structure without thin wire mesh or similar, placed all over it, which will ruin the look I think..  so whichever you choose,  you will need to be diligent with tying the stems to the trunks..

I would use herbaceous clematis for that.. the one with the longest flowering season is 'Arabella'.. which will scramble to 5 or 6 feet when mature..  C. durandii has larger flowers, grows to 6 feet with masses of stems from the base.. 
For something scented, if you walk past the area frequently,  C. mandshurica grows to about 5 feet.

Once high enough through the framework, the stems will cascade over it, quite attractively and informally.. 

Fairygirl

I didn't check your link @Rubytoo, sorry - but I think most of the tanguticas are fairly tolerant of varying soil and weather.
There's quite a few in this neighbourhood that I see when I'm out, so they must be ok with  plenty of rain, and wetter soil 

richardhodson

richardhodson

Clematis mandshurica, scented species from China, seen here growing through a rose Mary Queen of Scots in our front garden. This clematis flowers July to September, we never feed or water it, just remove all the dead wood mid-February. Fantastic plant.