Clematis to cover fence? Clematis Montana Var. Rubens Pink Perfection

A while ago some of you recommended the 'Mile a Minute' Clematis to cover a horrid chain link fence that I have.

Clematis Montana Var. Rubens Pink Perfection - is this the name for it?

If so, what is the best way to buy it. I'm not sure exactly how quickly it will g4row, for example if I grow it from a small plant or seeds etc. Is there anywhere that I can but it already quite large?

Any more knowledge about this plant that anyone could share would be really gratefully received.

 

Hello Victoria. Clematis Montana is a very vigorous plant and will do a good job covering an ugly fence. They grow very quickly and will do well in the first year. You should have no problem finding one in a garden centre as they are very common. I would just buy the kind of usual standard size which will grow away rapidly rather than pay a lot more for something trained on a small bit of trellis.
Clematis likes to have its roots in the shade and its head in the sun so if planting in a hot spot put some stones or something over the roots to shade them.
If you prefer yellow to pink Clematis Tangutica does lovely yellow bells and is just as vigorous. One I only planted last spring flowered all summer long and grew 6 feet high and 8 feet wide. It's doing a great job of hiding a chunk of fence I'd rather not see.