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Gandalf · 30-05-2005, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kay

In article , Warwick
writes

I'd like to grow something heavily scented up this arch (maybe two different
plants meeting at top from either side).

The soil is a heavy clay, but it improves well and the big new border we
started this year is tuning into quite nice crumbly stuff. The raised bed
we made 2 years ago hardened up this year before I mulched it heavily in
the spring with some well rotted horse manure and is now back to a workable
tilth.

Our neighbour, also on clay, has a pergola with more or less the
selection you are thinking of - a rose, a clematis and a female golden
hop. I have to say that at the moment the rose is winning hands down!

We misguidedly planted an Alistair Stella Grey over the archway in the
front garden, and had to remove it because it was far too vigorous. I
took a cutting and planted down the bottom of the garden where it will
have plenty of room to roam.

So if you go for roses, go for something which isn't too vigorous. The
height and spread estimates in catalogues appear to be on the
conservative side - most roses we have grown have doubled that!

Honeysuckle grows happily intertwined with roses, and if you choose your
variety/species right, you can extend the fragrant season.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

I made that mistake with my arbour when I planted a "Pauls Himalayan Musk". Wonderful rose but it has rather taken liberties space wise.

If you fancy a fragrant climber a little out of the ordinary why not try Clematis Triterinata rubromarginata ? (not 100% about the spelling). It's a group three with small but abundant stellate flowers.