"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message
...

In article ,
"jw 1111" writes:
|
| thanks. aspect; facing south, soil reasonably ok, but clay below one
foot
| in depth. location is north london. u.k. space in front 18 inches.

The clay is a problem. Don't plant clematis. There is a
lot more choice if something is provided for climbers to grow
up, and 18" is plenty of room. The least visually obtrusive
support is galvanised wire stapled to posts, but wire mesh
(e.g. pig netting) is easier to put up.

Otherwise, consider an ivy, a Virginia creeper (Boston ivy),
Hydrangea petiolaris or one of its allies, or Campsis (radicans
or x taglibuana). The last is spectacular, but flowers only
when it reaches the top of the wall and waggles free. What
else is self-clinging, he asks.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Campsis, Trachelospermum, Pileostegia for flowers, parthenocissus and ivy
for leaves. Its not a long list!
If you put up a frame work a whole lot more becomes available.
Just been sent a picture of a Hibbertia scandens I sold someone in north
London, it had out grown the conservatory and they had put it out, stunning,
evergreen and covered with bright yellow flowers. didn't think it would
survive but it did.

--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)