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Jeff Layman[_2_] · 14-04-2012, 07:57 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening

On 14/04/2012 15:01, wrote:
I have just removed a C. armandii that has got out of control.
The location is a good one, next to the house wall and facing
south-south-west, and the soil is good and well-drained, but
this is Cambridge. The problem is that the area is only about
1.5 metres high and 3 long, so I need something that I can either
hack back or won't grow above 3-4 metres. But it DOES need to
be vigorous to 2 metres, to cover a waterbutt.

Passiflora caerulea can't take the winters; P. incarnata can,
but it's probably too wet in winter for it there. Holboellia
grows well but doesn't flower due to late frosts. And so on.
I already have plenty of honeysuckles and clematis, so would
prefer something better than a common one of those, but may be
out of luck.

Clematis uncinata is evergreen, unusual, and scented. I got mine from
Great Dixter about 7 years ago. It's survived despite not being fully
hardy, but may be a bit too vigorous for you once it gets going.

I assume that Jasminum officinale isn't evergreen where you are, but it
might be worth a go anyway.

What about planting something which may be a bit slower than you really
want, and using drought-tolerant annual climbers (such as nasturtium) to
provide some cover until the perennial climber has done its job?

--

Jeff