Can I grow SweetAutumn Clematis in mostly shade?

shelli563

15 years ago

Has anyone had success growing Sweet Autumn Clematis in mostly shade (about 2 hours of sunlight) ?

Shelli

Sort by:Oldest

Comment (1)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
defining ambient light is near impossible with words ....

you can have trees limbed up 40 feet .... be in total shade.. and have to wear sunglasses for the brightness ...

or it can be so dark.. you need a flashlight at mid day ...

2 hours of direct light is very borderline, as you suspect ... but the amount of ambient light for the remainder of the day is determinative ...

the only real solution .... GIVE IT A GO .... what is it.. a 10$ investment.. maybe 20 ...

frankly .. all other things proper .... lack of sun simply reduces vigor .... it rarely kills ... you can always move it later if it isnt growing to expectation ...

i planted a AC in full sun .. in the third year .. it covered a split rail fence for 15 feet in every direction ... if in 3 years.. your is only growing 3 feet .. then you have to think about moving it ...

also .. since they bloom in the heat of summer.. you better have no fear of bees .... though the scent will help overcome such.. lol ... they are extremely busy on the plant.. and frankly .. unless provoked.. they would prefer to concentrate on the flower .... but some peeps just cant take the risk .. or have nerves of steel .....

ken

PS: greenery is usually very capable of adjusting to reduced light... its the flower production that will be limited by lack of sun .. which may defeat the entire reason to buy this ....

PPS: all that said... there is a clematis forum.. go figure .....
Related Discussions
Will I regret planting Sweet Autumn Clematis in my small garden?
Q
Comments (11)
Must be a "your zone will vary" thing. Here in Zone 5 we have no problem with it. We grow ours over a pergola to add to the shade. Other clematis will not grow fast enough to do that. The flowers all face up, though. But my daughter, whose room is over the pergola, has the view in the daytime and the scent at night (which she likes). We donÂt find the scent heavy: not like oriental lilies, for example. But the reactions to scents are so individual. Twice now it has been killed by rabbits gnawing the bark over the winter, and both times we went right out and bought another one. But itÂs not easy to find around here, and expensive too. Maybe you who want to get rid of it should put out little bunny placements and table settings to invite them to dineÂI wonder if thereÂs rabbit attractant you could spray on it, LOL.
...See More
Sweet Autumn Clematis..can I train it?
Q
Comments (13)
Prairemoon, It was a lot easier to move than I expected. Of course,there were a lot of roots left behind because there were a lot of roots that were close to the surface that had spread far from the plant. I moved it before it was tall enough to attach to the arbor, so I didn't have to cut it back. I think I only slowed the growth down by a couple of weeks. I mixed compost into the soil and either bone meal or rose tone, and I also used rooting hormone. Mine blooms in late August or September, and for that reason, I moved the SAC from the arbor because it was in a prominent spot. I wanted to see color in the summer, not a tunnel of green, although it was nice to stand under the arbor feeling enveloped by the lushness. I moved the SAC to a corner where I am going to try to get it to climb into a tree. I'm not sure how well it will flower because there might be too much shade. If that doesn't work, I'll probably move it so it can climb along the fence. Your wire idea is a good one. I think I will do the same at some point.
...See More
difference? clematis virginiana vs. sweet autumn clematis?
Q
Comments (6)
Sue, if you want to add that info to your profile so that it shows automatically by your name, here's how: Go to Your Houzz in the upper right of every page, click Edit Profile, and on the left side click advanced settings. Well down the advanced settings page is a blank labeled Climate Zone for Garden Forums along with a link to find your zone. If you add info on your state or the nearest large city you will get even better information since zone only relates to average coldest winter temperatures. Then return to the top of the page and click Done Editing.
...See More
WANTED: Clematis terniflora - sweet autumn clematis cuttings
Q
Comments (16)
Well, you may be a good candidate for the vile weed. My aunt (from Washington) was here last year when it flowered, and was admiring it. I sent her photos of it absolutely all over the woodland near the lake, and the areas around a creek. I think I convinced her it was evil (though it may not have been in her dry cold climate). I mentioned that fact to her (just in case). The other thing is that sometimes it smells sweet, other plants smell VILE and attract flies, it's rather variable. Hee, maybe it's a survival tactic though...there's more flies in the world than bees. If no one gets you cuttings, i can probably provide in spring. I don't think in my heat, trying to ship cuttings now would be good. And fall would be a bad time to root them. I'd rather send you an entire plant...but it's awfully hard to find a small one..maybe because they grow so fast.
...See More

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Clematis Virginiana

By Pollination Press LLC

Devil’s darning needles, a vigorous vine native to eastern North America, likes partial shade and many types of soils

Full Story

PLANTING IDEAS Great Garden Combo: Rose + Clematis for Small-Space Impact

By Le jardinet

We all need somebody to lean on. And when a rose supports a climbing vine, the results can totally transform a small garden

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Yes, You Can Grow Food in a Shady Yard

By Brian Barth

Your shady garden doesn’t have to be forever barren. Berries, herbs and other shade-loving plants can produce a delicious bounty

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Yes, You Can Grow an Edible Garden on a Hot, Dry Site

By Brian Barth

Difficult garden spots don’t need to deter you from planting trees, herbs and other delicious food plants

Full Story

FALL GARDENING 5 Fall Fruits You Can Grow in Containers

By Bill Marken

Brighten your porch or patio with a potted pomegranate, kumquat, blueberry bush or another great fall fruit

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Shades of Vegetable Gardens: Growing Edibles in Less Sun

By Steve Asbell

See how one gardener produces a veritable feast of vegetables and herbs under a canopy of shade

Full Story

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES Great Design Plant: Columbine Grows Happily in Shade and Sun

By Paintbox Garden

Its ethereal beauty comes from complex forms and wide-ranging colors, but columbine’s benefits are highly attractive too

Full Story

EARTH DAY Grow a Beautiful Garden With Ecofriendly Greywater

By Greywater Corps

Reducing home water waste means lower bills and a healthier planet. Here's how to set up a greywater home irrigation system that can help

Full Story

110

GARDENING GUIDES Grow Your Own Privacy: How to Screen With Plants and Trees

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Use living walls to lower your home and garden's exposure while boosting natural beauty in your landscape

Full Story

SMALL HOMES Houzz Tour: A Wee Home Grows in a Scottish Garden

By Jo Simmons

This compact house became a prototype with grand designs: showing that affordable and efficient can actually be stylish

Full Story

121

Can I grow SweetAutumn Clematis in mostly shade?

Comment (1)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

Related Discussions

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US