My Clematis: What I Call A Quality Problem
Let me start by saying that I am a very modest person. Ask anyone who knows me well. However, at the risk of appearing to be a braggart, I have to say this: my garden has an absolutely honking enormous Clematis jackmanii.
And it’s getting bigger. Above is our Clematis in a photo taken this past Sunday.
And this is the same Clematis from last year. It’s pretty clear, I think, that there has been significant expansion. (Though it’s a little tricky to see because the two photos are taken from different angles.)
Actually, there are two Clematis jackmanii. The first and larger vine has spawned an offspring to its left, which is itself starting to become huge.
So now I have what could be called a quality problem: too much Clematis for the trellising available (not to mention the railing on the front door landing.
Clearly I need to attach more trellising to the west-facing brick wall of our house. But what is the best way to do that? I could trellis upward – maybe attach 10′ or 12′ vertical rebar to the wall with horizontal wires attached. Or tear out the wooden trellis and replace it with a much taller one.
Another possibility would be to trellis out rather than up. You can’t see it in these pictures, but there is more west-facing wall going to the left towards the attached garage.
Thoughts?
gardeninacity 
I’m not sure you can ever have enough clematis. AND I am jealous of yours.
I have three different Clematis now, though two are still quite small (‘Elsa Speth’ and ‘Blue Ice’). Actually, even at maturity they are only supposed to go to 6′, so they will always be dwarfed by jackmanii.
Beautiful–no such thing as too much of a good thing.
I agree with you on that! You just have to figure out how to use the extra.
That is a beautiful clematis — er, two beautiful vines.
Thanks!
‘It’s a lovely problem to have…and it looks so healthy and lush!
I’m not sure how handy you are (or whether you want to spend much on the project), but perhaps build a small arbour over the front landing?
Four posts, 8 bags of rapid-set cement and two top rails with lattice fixed in-between the top and sides could give you some serious climber-growing space 🙂
I had never thought about an arbor over the landing – a big change, but worth thinking about.
Absolutely gorgeous. Puts mine (which bloomed in spring but now is all brown leaves) to shame. Matt’s idea sounds like a good one.
Yours must bloom earlier and then cope with a more intense summer heat.
We installed a lovely wrought iron trellis and planted Clematis jackmanii just last week. I had no idea what the mature vine looked like. Wow!
I hope it does well for you! It does take a few years to mature.
Wow! I mean, it was already a honking big clematis last year! I have no suggestions to offer. I’m happy if my clematis come back at the same size as last year, and I don’t expect ever to have a “problem” like this one. 😉
You never know, it might happen.
Which zone are you in? My clematis bloomed in mid May. But wow, what are tou feeding it :)) Gorgeous! I never know whether I should prune mine and don’t do much with it for fear of ruining mine, so I just let it be, but clearly you need some plans in place to keep the beauty going.
We’re in zone 5b, though some people say we have shifted into 6a. As far as feeding, I just give it generous doses of composted manure. I do cut mine back to about 24″ in March.
That is gorgeous! Do you cut it back at all?
Yes. I think it’s supposed to be cut to 18″ in March. I usually leave it taller than that, maybe 24-30″.
Whatever your doing, keep doing it! I suggest you just enjoy your house while you can before it takes over your room and puts its head on your pillow. :o)
Maybe I should sleep with a hedge trimmer under my pillow, just in case.
Most gorgeous clematis I’ve ever seen! I think Matt’s idea of an arbor would look really great:)
Thanks!
Superb! In fact it’ s name is ‘ Jackmanii superba’ isn’ t it? A very appropriate name; whatever do you feed it on?
You are right. I thought jackamanii was the specific name. It appears that this plant is written both Clematis x jackmanii Superba and Clematis ‘Jackmanii Superba’. Either way, it certainly is superb.
As for feeding, I just give it generous servings of mushroom compost.
Beautiful. I’d be taking cuttings and spreading it around
Good idea!
Yes, my first thought is to send your blogging friend, me, a cutting so I could have a spectacular, wicked cool, clematis like that in my garden and you wouldn’t need extra trellis. 🙂 Mine revolted because of the winter and greened up but not even one blossom. 😦
Your winter was a lot harder and longer than ours this year. I hope the next one is better! I’d be happy to send you a cutting.
I think you take it across that wall. The wall helps accent the purple blooms. Makes the plant show up so nice.
Right, and I just realized that there isn’t that there’s only a few feet of space left to climb vertically.
It ain’t bragging if it’s true 😉 What a beauty!
Good point – I’m just making a factual statement.
Lovely. It’s obviously perfectly happy where it is. I’d try to train it up and over the doorway.
That does sound nice.
A lovely jackamanii, Jason! I was thinking just the other day, how little experience most gardeners have with training of climbing vines, particularly clematis. We plant the vine, typically with its 2′ foot (or less) pot trellising marketing it to us that it is a vine. We seldom consider we should have the structure in place BEFORE we plant it. I think this is from a culture of “try and fail” because vines are foreign to us. Virginia creeper is about the only climbing in my natural landscape you come across.
Very true. When I first planted this vine, maybe five years ago, I had no conception of what it would look like when it matured. It has proven to be much more long lived than the native Trumpet Honeysuckles I have planted.
I should have such problems! Oy.
Really I’m kvelling over this Clematis.
Have you considered splaying wires from your house? One hook, screwed into house, with several wires splayed and attached to existing trellis, for more vertical growth.
I will definitely consider that. Or multiple hooks, each with 1-2 wires?
You can be very proud! I’d say try going left
Thanks!
Magnificent! And uh … what Helen says . hahahaha
Maybe I should have called the post Kvelling Over My Clematis.
That is indeed gorgeous!
Thanks!
I once pruned an espaliered pear tree that was fastened to a brick wall using something very similar to the anchors shown here: http://www.leevalley.com/us/garden/page.aspx?c=&p=47472&cat=2,33286&ap=1
They’re very strong, but I don’t know how they’d work on painted brick.
Thanks for the tip. I’m sure these are strong enough, the Clematis vines are not that heavy.
Wonderful clematis jackmanii Jason. Love this color, mine is another color more in red. I cut clematis roots one year ago and noticed that it’s hard enough growing in another spot.
I have not yet tried making a cutting of this Clematis; I really should.
Like Helen above, this is a problem I’d like to have. Like Jean, I’m happy if my clematis returns the same size.
I’d like to offer a suggestion but I really have no idea what made this Clematis take off the way it did.
Holy smokes! You have a giant purple people eater! Pretty soon you are going to have to hack your way into the front door! haha! What a beautiful problem to have! ~Julie
From now on that’s what I’m calling this Clematis – the Giant Purple People Eater.
You will pardon me if I can’t work up a lot of sympathy for this particular problem. And you’ve already gotten lots of good advice, so I will just sign off in a cloud of envy.
What if I add that I recently stubbed my toe? Then do I get any sympathy?
Sure: poor baby!
Gosh….you sure deserve to brag!!!! To hell with being humble! It’s gorgeous, I wouldn’t risk anything other than trellising outwards…one would NOT want to ANGER it after all!xxx
I’m always very polite when I deal with the Clematis. Not taking any risks.
We have one that size on our street that is planted in the median strip and it is that bushy. The neighbor that planted it used wire and it has been growing around the light standard for years. At least clematis does not get as heavy as other vines. I had a couple in my garden a long time ago and had to remove them because they got so large. Trimming them was my only option as they took up the whole fence. Mine was attached to wire mesh, anchored with rebar. It could have supported wisteria. Maybe just trim it.
I think I will probably go the wire or wire mesh route.
beautiful !!!
Thanks!
I have to keep mine pruned because I don’t have enough trellis….one actually started climbing through a tall bush….they are just stunning when they are big like yours.
I wouldn’t mind having Clematis climbing through a tall bush, that sounds nice.
I would be sooooo tempted to plunk a black powder-coated aluminum arbor right in front of the door and let the clematis romp its way up, across, and down the other side…….
Sounds nice – though I might have to get the arbor custom-made.
How wide is that doorstep area? I’ve seen a few in catalogs that are as much as 75″ wide (not sure if I can post links in comments but here’s one that wide from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Panacea-89089-Black-Garden-Arbor/dp/B000VYHRYM … and the clematis would love those latticework sides….
Just LOVELY! As others have suggested, training over the doorway to arch over to the other side would be awesome. Small eye-hooks to which you can attach heavy duty fishing line, or twine, can provide support, without interfering with the architecture of the doorway. I’ve seen this done inconspicuously at The Chicago Botanic Garden. 24″ spacing works pretty good.
I too have been so enchanted with Clematis this year that I ordered 3 more vines.
I like the idea of heavy-duty fishing line rather than wire.
It is absolutely gorgeous and it’s going to eat your house.
That’s what I’m afraid of!
I read this post in complete envy after what happened to my Clematis Chantilly. I do hope yours stays wilt-free. Clematis Jackmanii has been on my shopping list for a little while now, I just haven’t got anything for it to climb up yet! Yours on the trellis looks absolutely superb.
Thank you! Your posts on Clematis wilt have me counting my blessings.
Just beautiful! I like the idea someone had of extending wire from your house for it to climb up.
Me too, I’m going to look into that.
I realize this blog post was a couple years ago or more but I just have to compliment you on your unbelievable clematis! Mine is just starting it’s second growing season and is already flourishing, however, I won’t be satisfied til it one day mimics yours! As far as advice on making extra room for it, I’m going to go all out as I always do and say imagine it covering a pergola over the entire door area😍 a major job, major money and major investment of time but, as my two girls say, I am always sooo extra ha. Congrats on that clematis! It’s my clematis’ new role model! Happy gardening!
Thank you! I like the idea of a pergola, though not necessarily of the cost. (We just redid the kitchen). Good luck with your Clematis!