I've divided integrifolias twice. One was about 6' to 8' across. It did not divide well, I lost all but one piece. I divided Alionushka because I had to move it out of a large barrel. Out of 5 or 6 chunks three pieces made it. May I suggest - if you don't need to move the clump completely but want starts just dig in one side that sticks out and cut a section off (with roots) and pot it up for TLC for a year. I've done that with lots of my clematis. I get quite a few root starts that way. katie

Thanks for your comments gardengal - especially a propos since we're close geographically, and it looks like you have oodles of experience. One of the reasons I didn't want to yet place in the ground is because of comfrey growing behind the roses - well, now up through ÂePeaceÂf as well, sigh. 'Peace' seems to be suffering for it, and/or maybe for other reasons. The roses have a fair bit of blackspot; I'd prefer better access until (?if!) I get that under better control. Have just now pruned most of the dead bits, and will gradually prune more, after blooms, so also need access for that. I likely need to prune more aggressively in the first place, but so far IÂfm not adequately decisive. I agree about how nice the clems would look with these roses, but it just seems to me they'd really cover them (& already were growing over a foot above Abe). There are about 9 hefty vine stems coming from each pot, with off-branching I think. One possibility for one of the blue clems is near a purple azalea - of course they wonÂft be in bloom at the same time. This azalea seems to be dying out on about half so the clematis could cover up the dead branches (& more)Âc though maybe not great if hope of it recovering significantly (sentimental value, coming from a family member). ThatÂfs a more shady area (north side of house). I haven't looked/done enough rose/clematis combos to make a fully informed assessment of ÂgoverwhelmingÂh the rose. The only other ones we have are: 'Nelly Moser' growing up from under 'Compassion' (not such a great color match to my eyes, but now difficult to get at Nelly) - and 'Jackmanii' providing a nice bridging color between 'Elina' and 'Pink Peace' roses... but going up a trellis so not really on the roses. Hmmm, now that I think about it, also have 'Comptesse de Bouchard' getting mixed in (but usually mostly trellised beside) with 'Sunsprite', and 'The President' sort of trellised, mostly beside but also through a bit of 'Mary' rose (love that combo). None of those are super vigorous (probably need feeding). Our biggest clematis is probably 'Allanah' (gorgeous deep red, not near a rose) - I can't picture her right on a rose unless many of the vines were teased out to grow trellised outside of the rose too. Also - back with the blue Integrifolias... there's another rose (label kaput so not sure what variety - it was so covered up that it hasn't seen much light of day lately), from large peat pot, that has rooted into the ground just adjacent to the clems, much closer than the other roses, such that if I dig the clems up, I'd probably need to extricate the roots from this rose (which ideally I'd move too).... too much, too close!! I'll have to look more for combo pics. Meanwhile, probably will wait to move/re-pot ÂeBlue BoyÂf and ÂeBlue BellÂf. Maybe will try an obelisk for now.

mnwsgal - I absolutely love your clematis. I am going to have to try that for my next non climbing clematis that I buy! chickadee - I am starting two rooguchis and having them grow up 7' obelisk trellises. Since I just got them I don't have much feedback on how they do but that is another way you can grow them!

Yup. I've seen several scutellarias do this, and S. integrifolia the most frequently of the species I've grown. It has a very pretty bloom on it, when it decides to actually throw flowers. But mine do about 90% cleistogamous seed pods, unfortunately. I haven't done research or controlled trials to see what prompts this behavior, but I've observed it in gteenhouse plant, container grown plants in the nursery, and plants in the ground. Soeur