How to successfully combine your clematis?

With roses

It is the classic marriage par excellence: a clematis weaving through a climbing rose or a shrub rose. It is quite easy to align their flowerings, especially in the case of perpetual roses and large-flowered clematis that bloom all summer long. You can create a harmonious ensemble by pairing plants with similar tones, or conversely, play with contrasts to enhance the colours mutually (for example, a yellow rose with a blue-purple flowering clematis). If you choose to create harmony, combine the pink flowers of the clematis ‘Hendryetta’ and the climbing rose ‘Blush Noisette’. Conversely, dare to create a stunning contrast of shape and colour by pairing the yellow flowers of the climbing rose ‘Golden Gate’ with the surprising frilly flowering of the clematis ‘Blue Pirouette’!

For a softer and more delicate atmosphere, marry white and pink: the white flowering of the clematis ‘Summersnow’ pairs wonderfully with the pale pink flowers of the climbing rose ‘Albertine’.

Also enjoy successive flowerings with the clematis montana ‘Mayleen’, whose light-scented pink flowering ends when that of the liana rose ‘Bobbie James’ begins.

Rose ‘Laguna’ and Clematis jackmanii ‘Superba’ (copyright GAP Howard Rice) – Rose ‘Rosy Cushion’ – Rose ‘Albertine’ and Clematis fargesii ‘Summersnow’

Avec d'autres plantes grimpantes

To try as well, the marriage on a pergola or trellis of a clematis and another climbing plant, more discreet than a rose bush, but which allows for effects of foliage or renewed flowering depending on the case. For example, against a wall in partial shade, you can pair winter jasmine with light yellow flowering and clematis ‘Trikatrei’ with large dark blue flowers in summer. For a spring marriage, rather combine the white flowers of Akebia quinata ‘Cream Form’ with the pink flowering of the vigorous clematis montana ‘Mayleen‘. In partial shade again, adorn the tapestry of foliage with the hops of a clematis with light flowers, such as Clematis florida ‘Sieboldii’. Finally, you can pair a spring-flowering clematis with the ornamental vine Vitis coignetiae which comes into leaf quite late and takes on flamboyant colours in autumn. Choose a light clematis to create contrasts, for example Clematis alpina ‘Ruby’ with dark pink bell-shaped flowers almost red.

Humulus lupulus (photo H. Zell), Jasminum nudiflorum (photo Amanda Slater), Clematis ‘Trikatrei’, Akebia quinata ‘Silver Bells’

In a colourful border, with perennials

We advise you in all cases to plant perennials at the base of your clematis. They help to maintain cool, shaded soil, and enhance its flowering. You can choose, for example, alliums, astrantias, or Thalictrum ‘Hewitt’s Double’. Hardy geraniums particularly complement the flowering of clematis. Often pink, mauve, or blue, they easily create a beautiful colour harmony with clematis. Also enjoy herbaceous clematis by pairing, for example, Clematis heracleifolia with the light foliage of grasses and the blue flowering of the periwinkle Vinca minor.

Astrantia major ‘Ruby’ – Clematis ‘Temptation’, Geranium ‘Rozanne’, Allium stipitatum ‘Violet Beauty’ (photo JM van Berkel)

In a container, with annuals or perennials

Clematis take up little space and can easily adapt to pot cultivation. Brighten up your balconies and terraces with large containers in which you can plant compact varieties alongside annuals or perennials with summer flowering. In full sun, the purplish flowering of the Clematis ‘I Am Happy’ will beautifully dominate verbenas, anthis, or osteospermum. In light shade, pair the Clematis ‘Shin-Shigyoku’ with large double purplish flowers in a container with fuchsias in shades of violet and purple, such as ‘Voodo’. Also enjoy the decorative foliage of ivies and ferns!

Osteospermum ‘Stardust’, Anthemis ‘White Butterfly’, Verbena vepita ‘Lavender White’ and Clematis ‘I Am Happy’

With other varieties of clematis

You can of course combine different varieties of clematis on a pergola or a slatted wooden fence. Take the opportunity to extend the decorative interest by pairing a spring-flowering clematis with a summer variety that has large flowers. However, you can also look for blooms that coincide, playing with contrasts in shapes and colours. For instance, you can pair the deep pink bells of clematis ‘Princesse Diana’ with the very pale pink of ‘Mienie Belle’.

To combine clematis varieties, discover the Collections!

Clemmatis ‘Diana’ and ‘Mienie Belle’ – Clemmatis ‘Prince Charles’ and ‘Brunette’ – Clemmatis ‘Princess Diana’ and ‘Blue Pirouette’

With trees or bushes

Use your small trees or bushes as supports for your clematis: in addition to providing colour, you will achieve an original effect. What a surprise to suddenly discover a profusion of flowers on a bush that was only decorative for its foliage! The nodose trunk of an old fruit tree offers an ideal support for a small-flowered clematis, for example Clematis montana which will bloom at the same time as the cherry, plum, or apple tree. You can also let a Clematis fargesi ‘Summersnow’ climb, whose countless white flowers will astonish in summer.

Cherry tree in bloom – Clematis montana ‘Freda’

In a romantic garden

To create a romantic atmosphere, choose clematis that offer flowers in pastel colours, pink, white or mauve. You can select Clematis montana ‘Mayleen’, which is covered in spring with an abundant flowering of soft pink. Pair your clematis with roses, either climbing or bush varieties, taking advantage of the long soft pink flowering of varieties such as ‘Old Blush’ or ‘Rosy Cushion’. Plant a few peonies nearby, for example ‘Festiva Maxima’ or ‘Sarah Bernhardt’. Also enjoy the silvery foliage of the wormwood Artemisia arborescens ‘Little Mice’ and the delicate flowering of the carnations (Dianthus plumarius). Basins, fountains, sculptures, or arbors fit very well into these romantic gardens. You will achieve a flowerbed with a particularly soft and delicate appearance.

Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ (photo FD Richards), Dianthus plumarius ‘Flore Pleno’ (photo Serres Fortier), Astrantia major ‘Ruby Star’, Clematis montana ‘Mayleen’, romantic flowerbed (copyright Biosphoto – NouN)