Lisa - you are in zone 9, a warm climate. Is it dry heat in the summer, or humid? I ask because I am in a dry summer/cool wet (theoretically) winter climate.

I love love the old clematis Jackmanii. I like it better than other purple clematis I grow because the color is better, and the blooms are larger. I do not prune it at all - in my opinion clematis are not at all as fussy as they say (sort of like roses).

Here is a pic of it growing up into a Sombreuil. It would do great with a MAC.

Jackie

Hi Lissa,

I also grow Jackmanii and it's a nice clematis but I have better results with the Viticella clematis. Etoile Violette is a superb performer in my garden.

The flowers are a bit smaller than Jackmanii but I prefer how they look.

Diane

Here is a link that might be useful: Etoile Violette

If this was my project, I'd pick a "type 3" clematis to grow into this rose. These bloom on new wood, and are traditionally pruned hard so that all the new wood starts fairly low, avoiding the naked-leg look. However, you can do a modification -- allow some of the stems to grow at-will into the rose, but prune some lower down in the Spring so there will be some new wood (and blooms) further down. New growth will climb into old growth, and into the rose, as the season progresses. It's something you'd have to do just once a year. Beyond that, whenever the clematis gets too big you can nip it back a bit.

:-)

~Christopher

I've got Jackmanii growing through one of my MACs -- looks good. I agree that Etoile Violette would be just as nice -- have that growing over a tool shed where I'm contemplating combining "Orfeo" with it. Both of these are vigorous enough that they won't be dwarfed by MAC. Both are pruning type 3 and, if you opt to cut stems back hard (I go half-and-half, as Christopher suggests), the dead stems are fairly easy to pull out of the rose during the winter.

Christopher, it's hard to imagine any clematis too big for a MAC in zone 9, with the possible exception of Polish Spirit. That thug of a clematis was too much for anything but a redwood or giant sequoia!

Yes, be sure NOT to grow Polish Spirit into any living plant. It could swallow a small house. Way too much for any rose.

Folly, the voice of experience on this one

This post was edited by rosefolly on Sat, May 10, 14 at 23:29

Thank you all!
Jacqueline3: our Summers are very hot, humid, and windy. Winters are cool and wet, but we are in a perpetual drought. Your rose and clematis are beautiful! Just gorgeous!
Fogrose:the Etoile Violette is just beautiful. Thanks so much for the link!
Aquaeyes: thanks for the advice, will definately keep all that in mind as I make my decision!
Catspa: thanks also for your opinion. I'm thinking it will be either jackmanii or Etoile Violette.
Thanks so much everyone! It helps to know what works for others!

Well what is wrong with my Polish Spirit. I got a slacker. Polish Spiritless.

If you have never grown a Clem before start with Jackmanii and go from there. Here what has been easy is Jackmanii, Etoile Violette, Violacaea Venosa, and Perle d'Azur. A thick mulch is good enough as far as shaded roots are concerned.

The really double blooms like Josephine, Arctic Queen--they don't seem to like this version of 9b much.

Will do. Thanks hoovb.