Clematis

[kendra20]

10 yrs ago i planted a stick with a label on it saying montana clematis without much hope, it was reduced to 59p in garden centre. and waited. oh me of little faith, it now grows 30ft along the back wall is 8ft high, and about 5ft thick and is covered in beautiful flowers. everyone laughed at my little stick they are not laughing now. I don't know about great oaks from acorns but great clematis from little twigs grow. anyone got one like it ?

[maggiebee]

Oh you are lucky, never had much much with clematis. However, I did buy a couple of hostas a few years ago - very dried up and on their last legs. Today they are huge, beautiful plants which flower every year. A wee bit of TLC is all that's needed.

[Prudie]

Lucky you kendra, I love the Montana. Had a massive one in my previous house all over a garage but have planted 2 in this house and neither has performed at all.

[kendra20]

The only care I give my clematis is never let it dry out they love loads of water and a sunny wall oh and it gets fed now and again with rose feed.

[Canary42]

I'm envious - never had any joy with Clematis.

[welshlibranr]

yes I have a few like that!......they looked so sickly, and now they flower every year and are lovley!......

[Ouzel]

Yes, a Clematis montana Elizabeth - a mass of very pale pink flowers which completely covers a wall, just like yours.

[kendra20]

Oh and against all advice I NEVER prune it just let it go its own way, it don't like being cut.

[Mass_Hysteria]

Same as Kendra although not a stick. Planted one for my Mother, must be 30 years ago. It now trails all round the 40' x 50' garden and covers the front of her house. Beautiful little flowers through April/May, don't last long enough though.

[SlackAlice]

Not one as good as yours, but I do prune mine because my gardens a bit small. Montana's are about the easiest to grow and once established never fail to please.
Just managed to get a passion flower to grow and I've put it between 2 montanas to see how it goes.

[kendra20]

I had a lovely passion flower going nicely but 5ft of snow in winter killed it. but clemmy kept going, thank goodness. Give me a garden plant and it will thrive but to give me a house plant is giving it the kiss of death lol

[SlackAlice]

I think I would 'die' if I got 5ft of snow in my garden!!
As you can appreciate I'm a southern softie, lol.

[rosyposy]

I too have a lovely montana, goes the length of the garden. We had to cut down an old apple tree down about five years ago so I took cuttings of the montana and now it has grown up the trunk of the tree and flowers at the top, it is about six foot wide and looks exactly like a montana tree-it looks gorgeous. Never had any luck with the passion flower tho', I did get a Hosta for 50p called Fire and Ice about six years ago(on its last legs) put it in a pot and it is beautiful, gets better every year and I've never even repotted it. -rosy

[ferlew]

I have Clematis Montana Alba, despite my neighbours attempt to kill it off.

[boxtops]

Our Montana is all over our shed roof and halfway along the hedge now.... we've had a lot of luck is buying sickly looking plants from the sick bay at our local Homebase over the years - a bit of nurturing often brings them back to rude health!

[welshlibranr]

boxtops, so true, I buy lots of sickly looking plants too, they usually survive and do well with care!.....

[boxtops]

Hi welsh - long time no see!

[Ann]

I have one which usually covers the gable end of a shed - Clematis montana, which I have had for 20 years +. This year there are plenty of flowers on it but they are only half the size they should be - wonder why? Cold winter maybe? I have never fed it so perhaps the poor thing is starving!

[boxtops]

I never feed ours, I never do anything with it except water it if I am taking the hose round in hot dry weather. It just gets on with it.

[Ann]

//so I took cuttings of the montana and now it has grown up the trunk of the tree//
When is the best time to do this Rosy, and how do you do it please?

[boxtops]

Ann http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/techniques/propagation_clematiscuttings1.shtml