Evergreen Clematis

Hello chums

Just looking at these. I wouldn’t mind one of these climbing up one the uprights on the pergola. Thing is, I’ve noticed that a lot of them are quoted “May need winter protection”? Are we talking mulch or something more drastic?

Cheers...Freddy

 

@Freddy l have been looking at Chirrosa Freckles, I've liked it for a long time, I actually bought one about five years ago from ebay but it turned out to be a totally different clematis

 

Nothing doing?

 

The evergreens tend to be winter/early spring flowering, is that what you are looking for Freddy?

 

Yes. It’s to go against one of the other uprights.

 

The early flowerers tend to be pale pinks, blues and whites.

 

I grow armandii Snowdrift Freddie

One word of warning.....it is extremely vigorous. Here it has covered a 10' plus wide wall in 2 years and then some. The wall is 8' high and it has sailed well over it. Flowers when it feels like it but most profusely in March.

Difficult for me to say how hardy it is....most everything survives down here over winter. It was bought to clothe a bare wall quickly and this it has done.

I prune it after its main flowering to control its size. It is on a warm wall receiving early morning to mid afternoon sun.

If the pergola is strong and durable Armandii is a good choice; otherwise on a less than sturdy host, an average fence for example, I think it could cause problems in a few years

However, check out Cirrhosa Advent Bells Freddie......evergreen, flowers all winter and vigorous. I planted it in a friend's garden a couple of years back and it is glorious; scented, floriferous and delightful.

 

Thanks for the replies, appreciated. Armandii ‘Snowdrift’ seems to fit the bill. As everything else on the pergola will be deciduous, I was wanting something evergreen, just to add interest/shape.
@Verdun , the Clematis will be growing up a 4” post, so should be well up to the task.

As a slight aside, will I need to add extra supports to add a bit of width to the plant? Or will a single post suffice?

 

Extra supports for me Freddie. Armandii has much heavier foliage, at least it does here, than any Montana. Agree about the pruning though.....easier to cut back to individual leaves. Besides it would look better with a "bit of width" I think.

 

A bit late now, to add extra 4” uprights, so it will have to be something else. Maybe substantial tensioned wires?

 

I suppose a trellis is doable, just don’t want to spoil the look/effect. I’ll try to take a piccy tomorrow of the unfinished pergola, to give the idea