Clematis "The President"

**Snadger** · 11-04-2009, 08:23 PM

Originally posted by Meschuee View Post

Hello, everyone.

I planted a clematis today, "The President". Lots of varieties to choose from in the nursery. I wanted a summer flowering sort. As I have heavy clay in the flower garden, I put grit in the hole, mixed compost, grit and grit-sand and hope it will be happy. I don't always have a lot of luck with clematis - because of the clay, I think.

Does anyone grow this particular clematis? Do you feed your clematis through the growing season?

Penny

'The President' must be quite an old variety as I remember growing it at the first house I owned........nearly 30 years ago.
I think they enjoy alkaline soil and a cool root run, hence the reason I had paving flags around mine. Apart from that just a normal high potash tomatoe feed at flowering time was all mine got!

**Sweepster** · 11-04-2009, 08:30 PM

I have a young one of these growing into a tree (don't think it's the ideal sort for trees really, but it seems to be coping). Don't give it any special treatment. Provided a few huge purple flowers last year

**coreopsis** · 11-04-2009, 09:22 PM

Got two last year from Morrisons-they had "buy 2 for �3"offer.I bought "The President" and "Ville de Lyon".Repotted them last autumn and couldn't make up my mind as where to plant them so left them in the pots and forgot about them.I had a look not so long ago and there is some new growth.Still don't know where to put them

**jogette** · 11-04-2009, 10:49 PM

I was told by a clematis specialist nurseryman that clematis should be fed weekly during the growing season as they put on so much growth. They are greedy feeders and will reward you if you feed and water them well.They are a member of the buttercup family so like to be damp.
Don't forget to plant them about 4 inches deeper than the soil level which will help the plant recover if it gets clematis wilt, and it also encourages the plant to make better growth from soil level.
On my London clay soil which is like concrete in the summer, I find that the viticella clematis are a better bet. They aren't so fussy and are much easier to grow well.

**Two_Sheds** · 12-04-2009, 06:30 AM

Clematis like their heads in the sun, and their feet in shade. Always plant them a couple of inches lower than they were in the pot they came in - to help prevent clematis wilt.

I've got one on the other side of my blue shed (see avatar - it's on the side you can't see)

I never water it, I never feed it - it grows rampantly every summer and flowers its socks off.

I've just bought a load of Clems at �1.78 each (The President was one of them) for my new back garden - I've got 13 fence panels to clad.
I'll be shading their roots with bedding plants etc.

**Meschuee** · 12-04-2009, 08:32 AM

Thanks, everyone, for the advice. Looking forward to it blooming it's little heart out.

I'll make sure it's well down in the ground and put some slabs round the base.

I have a viticella, originally in a pot where it did very well, planted now in the ground on a trellis and it seems to be happy. I grow "Cezanne" in a tub and also the wonderful "Rokko Kolla" (big white flowers), which does very well.

Penny

**hamsterqueen** · 13-04-2009, 04:04 PM

I have been given 2 wooden ,6 foot,4 legged pyramids (my daughter reckons they look like oil derricks). I want to plant climbing somethings around them to create a bit of privacy from the next doors garden. I love clematis. We have clay soil and are by the sea, do you reckon they would grow well? Garden is north west facing and gets sun in the morning, but is shaded by late afternoon.

How many plants do you reckon I should put in? 1 per leg? about 2 feet x 2 feet at the bottom ..

any other climbing plant suggestion? The supports are painted bright blue and I have 2 large red cordyline palms planted either side.

All suggestions gratefully received.

**Meschuee** · 13-04-2009, 05:57 PM

Sounds interesting, hamsterqueen. I look forward to the replies you get and to finding out what you eventually do plant.

Penny

**jackie j** · 13-04-2009, 06:41 PM

I neglet all my clemati's and they come back year after year I have put a large flat stone to shade the roots of one of them it could be the president if it is its a mass of purple flowers in the summer, I cut it back every year.

**Meschuee** · 13-04-2009, 07:33 PM

Sounds a strong grower, jackie. Hope mine does as well.

**Meschuee** · 13-04-2009, 07:38 PM

hamsterqueen - I found this site about drought tolerant vines, which says that some of the drought-tolerant one are also tolerant of salt. You might like to take a look at some of the plants.

Drought Tolerant Vines

A friend grows a different clematis at the foot of each leg of her pyramid.

Penny

**hamsterqueen** · 13-04-2009, 08:11 PM

thank you!

I've spent all day hand weeding the ground around the first pyramid ( a whole bucket full of dandelion and bindweed root so I will give it a go.

**Meschuee** · 13-04-2009, 09:17 PM

Well done! Bet it was hard work. Let us know what you do plant. Good luck.

I think it could be a case of plant something and see how it goes.

Penny

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