clematis .... one that gets cut to the ground each year.. so it wont discolor or effect your siding ...

ken

Lonicera sempervirens- the trumpet honeysuckle. Non-invasive native with bright tubular flowers that the hummingbirds love.
CMK

now i am asking here ... not dictating ...

i think of clems as being rather light and airy ... but for the autumn monster ...

i have a honeysuckle that is working its way 20 feet down a fence..

can the honeysuckle be pruned to the ground.. every year to keep it manageable ...

is it delicate enough for that arbor???? [which BTW.. will rot every few years.. if you like it there.. when it does rot.. go with a PVC replacement that will last decades ..]

ken

I would get this Clematis...

http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/CLROP.html

Bluestone has a big sale right now. It says this Clematis blooms from May to September. I ordered one myself.

Please post a photo of your plant when you get it growing!

Here is a link that might be useful: Clematis Rosemoor

agreed, ken. i have a HUGE honeysuckle that just tore its 8' support trellis off the fence (and onto my twisty baby locust) when the wind blew too hard. It is every bit of 14 feet long...it's a monster.

clematis is much more delicate.

a good annual vine is purple hyacinth bean. it would look nice against the siding, attracts hummingbirds, has awesome purple pods and you can use the seeds to grow another one the next year.

I love clematis and have 30-40 of them. Keep in mind that clematis can take three or more years to mature so if you want something that will be showy this year, choose another plant. You may get some bloom year 1 and year 2 with more year 3. But if you are willing to wait for them to mature clematis would be beautiful there.

For a beginning clematis grower type 3 (also sometimes referred to as type C) are the easiest as they are cut way back each spring or late fall and bloom on vines that grow that year. Some will bloom from spring until fall and some will have a big bloom period and may rebloom later in the fall.

I suggest you visit some clematis websites and look at the many different choices and their bloom times and sun requirements. Also check out the clematis forum.

Here is a link that might be useful: GW Clematis Forum

Clematis 'Ville de Lyon' would be a nice contrast against that neutral backdrop.

If you like purples, 'polish spirit' is a profuse bloomer.

Go to "clematis on the web" to search different varieties of clematis.

Type 3 clematis is cut back about 8-12 inches to the ground in winter when it is dormant.

If I remember correctly, if you prune only 1/3 of Ville de Lyon, she will produce double flowers on the years previous growth. So if you prune 1/3 of the plant, you'll be rewarded with both single and double flowers.

-Ken, so how long have you grown your L. sempervirens? I've had mine for maybe seven years and it is only just grown over the six foot fence. Likely won't get much bigger either since it requires so much spring pruning.
CMK

I'd plant Clematis 'Piilu' Can be pruned as type III and won't outgrow that trellis like 'Ville de Lyon' and 'Polish Spirit' will.

Is a climbing rose a possibility? That space looks like it could be nice with a plant with a little heft. And you could let a clematis scramble up it to boot.

I don't think that trellis is big enough or sturdy enough for a climbing rose. And a climbing rose needs to go more horizontal than vertical to bloom well. I'd go with a clematis of some sort. Clematis Venosa Violacea is my favorite of the ones I have right now.

In a zone 5 it is doubtful many climbing roses would grow very tall. I vote for a climbing rose and the clematis.

I agree that a climbing rose and clematis would be great if enough room. There are so many lovely clematis....given the space, I would be tempted to change out the trellis for an obelisk.
Clematis & rose combo.
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Here is clematis alone, as the rose didn't survive winter last year.
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Flora

Flora,

The Clematis on your pictures is not Haku Ookan :)
Most likely, it is Crystal Fountain.

Agreed.

Here is a link that might be useful: Haku-okan

Thanks Alina & buyorsell......serves me right for buying a walmart special....I like it better than Haku okan though.
Flora

Black-eyed susan vine is a good annual vine to grow. For clematis beginners, I think Jackmanii is the most foolproof and very rewarding.

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Jackmanii it is! Just planted it in time before a big storm hit. Thank you all for the advice!

Please get a "real trellis" Something substantial that compliments the front of your house. Is that the front of your house?
If it is, I wonder if you'll like the 'pvc' look when the plants lose their leaves. If you can afford it, get a well made cedar one. It won't last forever, but it will last 10 years. If it is not part of the entry way, do whatever you want, as long as it is more substantial than the fan. It is very upsetting when the trellis comes tumbling down with the plant you babied for several years and is finally really blooming. It has made grown men cry.
Marie