I'm very much a novice when it comes to clematis, Steven, but I ordered what looked to be a periwinkle blue. Check out Ascotiensis. It's a type 3 so you'd prune it about the same time as your roses.

Whatever you put on that gorgeous arbor is going to be icing on the cake!

Anne

oooh Anne, that Ascotiensis is LOVELY!

Steven none of my current clems fit your description, HOWEVER, I've been researching a beauty that's been around forever called 'Perle d'Azur'. From what I've learned so far,this is a very strong grower but can be slow to start and tends to have bare legs (nothing that a foreground planting of 'Rozanne' geranium etc. couldn't take care of). The color is supposed to be violet, fading to sky blue or periwinkle. Below I've provided a link to an interesting thread on the Clematis Forum where there are two lovely photos of 'Perle' (There are several other posts about it if you do a search).

I've heard of people planting as many as three clems with a single rose, but of course one must carefully gauge the size and vigor of each plant. I tend to think along practical lines of how to keep plants free of disease and pests and tend to shy away from intermingling too many things. I currently have young (3yr) 'Niobe', 'Huldine', 'Betty Corning'(another beautiful blue clem) and 'Hagley Hybrid' growing with some pink roses. They certainly all have the same requirements of moisture and rich soil.

I'm very interested to see what you'll find to go with the beautiful Lamarque.

I'm beginning to think that clematis can be as addicting as roses. We'd better be on our guard!!!
PattiOh

Here is a link that might be useful: Anyone familiar with Perle d'Azur?

Steven, I am also new to clematis, but when I researched I learned the viticellas are good candidates for hot weather areas. Check out this one and the list on the left menu for others good for beginners. As I read as much as I could, this name,'Venosa Violacea', came up the most often so when I saw it on sale I grabbed two. Last year they were just babies so I cannot tell you what they will do, only that it is an option for a dark purple.

Here is a link that might be useful: 'Venosa Violacea'

The link did not go to the flower. Click early small flowered and then click viticella.

Caution! Clematis are quite addicting! They are beautiful, easy, romantic, and quite collectible. You may even be looking for more arbor spots, just so you can grow more clematis.

By all means get 2 different clematis, just make sure they are of the same type, like both type I, or both III. That will greatly simplify your pruning routine.

I have about 14 different clematis. It started innocently enough with good old jackmanii. But they have a way of becoming essential to the garden. All of my clems are 3 years or younger, so none of them are big enough to photograph well.

Two of my favorite:
venosa violacea - as recommended by Debbieca above. The photographs will not show you quite how beguiling they are. That light stripe down the center just makes them glow in the garden, as opposed to solid jackmanii, the president, ramona, etc. It blooms early and long, takes a break in the heat of summer, then starts blooming again in the fall. And it seems very quick to establish, at least mine was. Here you can see it blooms long into the season. (yes, the snow did stop the blooming.)
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roguchi - nodding type bells, unique, delicate, intriguing, and very long bloom time.

"roguchi"

Sweet autumn clematis is beautiful, but a monster. Only plant with a massive support.

Of course, I love them all, and don't think you could go wrong with any of them.

Here is a link that might be useful: venosa violacea

I'm so thrilled to see venosa violacea so well recommended :-) I planted it last year and am anxious to see what it will do this year!

Anne

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This is Will Goodwin. It has done extremely well for me; gets maybe 6 feet tall; is on a south facing wall. No special treatment.

How I love clematis but they don't like me.

Steven, Annie's has some fabulous clematis. Last year I bought clematis tanguitica and so far it hasn't died.

Anne, what a cool website. Got it bookmarked.

Thanks Debbie, I'm going to try the variety you recommended.

gldno1, beautiful! just beautiful!

Sorry I'm just getting back to this thread. My weekend totally got away from me. I knew it was going to be busy, but sheesh.

Thank you all for the great suggestions! Anne, that Ascotiensis is fantastic. Such an amazingly clear color. I will be looking mainly at type 3's, so it's on the list.

And PattiOh, yes! I've been considering Perle d'Azure, and Brian is really partial to it. I would imagine that the fact it's a slow grower would be better in the long run. Perhaps it would be less competition while the rose gets established. No matter what combo I choose, I think I'm looking at three seasons to really get the effect I want.

Venosa Violacea is exquisite. I saw this at a nursery this past summer. I nearly bought it. Still may, just for a different area. I'm thinking a more solid color won't compete with the rose as much.

Miss Gottagarden, you aren't kidding about clematis being addicting. This will be the second year in the ground for my three. One isn't fairing so well, but the other two are already starting to come out. I'm anticipating a pretty good show this year. I know enough about them to know I want more. I love Reguchi and WILL plant one. They remind me for all the world of certain campanula, but on a vine. So beautiful.

Gldno1 - that Will Goodwin is spectacular and another welcome suggestion. Perfect color and the ruffled edge is gorgeous. On the list of possibilities!

Edna, I'm really surprised to hear you say that you have trouble with clematis. Mine have gotten off to such a slow start that it makes me wonder if they are simply finicky in the Bay Area. I think you and I have very similar micro-climates. I'm hoping to get down to Annie's this weekend (if I can't get away from this kitchen remodel for an afternoon). I'll make sure to pick some brains while I'm there.

Let me take this thread on a different spin. Has anyone ever grown a hedge of boxwood or something similar and used that as support for clematis?

I don't think anyone mentioned Nelly Moser. Clematis don't like me much either, but this one has returned several years for me and blooms well. I have it growing over the moss rose William Lobb and I like the way they look together. It would look lovely with Lamarque too, IMO. I would post a photo of my Nelly, but photobucket is currently down for maintenance. I will try later.

As for the hedge thing, no, I have never tried it, but I'm trying something similar this year - I moved Mrs.Cholmondeley to the side of my ceanothus, in the hopes she will grow through its foliage and provide an additional spot of color once the blue flowers of the ceanothus fade. It may even happen that they bloom simultaneously and that will hopefully make a nice analogous color scheme.

I can't find any of the viticellas for sale here. I have been wanting to try them for ages, as I understand they are better suited to this type of climate, as Debbie says, but so far no luck.

Do tell us what you decide in the end.

Eduarda

Photobucket is now up. Here is a picure of my Nelly Moser.

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Ooops, that came up larger than I expected! Sorry about that, especially to the ones on dial-up.

Eduarda

Hi everyone. I did a lot of experimenting with clematis/rose combos a couple years ago. Some worked well, others didnÂt. One of my favorite successes was AustinÂs Eglantyne with Dr Ruppel in a 18-inch pot. IÂd like to try a pale blue or purple clematis with a yellow rose.
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New Dawn (just budding) under two clematis. Not my favorite combo, but it gives the area color even when the rose isn't blooming. The blue clematis is multi-blue, which has been a stingy bloomer for me.
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I hope it's ok to post photos here, I wasn't sure.

Here is Sweet Autumn and a purple one that J was supposed to remember the name of(gone LOL)
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Martha, is that Etoile Violette? It's GORGEOUS!

Anne

J can only remember royal something, "you know that German king" LOL it came from Walmart, M

http://www.gardenbuddies.com/forum/messages/4298/4298.html This is a link to another fabulous clematis site with lots of beautiful pictures. Take a look!

Ahhhh, Eduarda...simply stunning!

Bean, there certainly is a love relationship going on with your roses and clematis.

Mora! LOVE your entryway. The cute red screen door, red & green trim, the accents over your door, clematis, and look at those flowers....just darling.

So Steven, what's on your list now?

Mrs. Chomondely!
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Spectacular, Diana! Love the pansies against Mrs. Chomondely.
I'm sure that's what the garden of Eden looked like.

Diana, I had visions of your Mrs.C climbing the sycamore tree when I relocated mine a couple of weeks ago. I hope it likes it with the ceanothus. I sowed foxgloves and larkspur nearby too. Can't wait to see what they will do.

Eduarda

Steven,

I know nothing of clematis--so I can't help you there. Those are some gorgeous pics, folks!

However, have you considered Lady Banks Rose (r. banksiae) for your G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S arbor? It comes in white or yellow, and is thornless. Once bloomers. I have seen them (in the wine country in my area) with some bloom in the summertime as well as the usual massive springtime bloom--quite a long bloom season IMO. Might work with or without clematis.

Becky

Here is a link that might be useful: Lady Banks Rose at HMF

STEVEN & Co,
All of this tantilizing clematis talk just cost me $50 at Brushwood Nursery.(Though I did get a $5 discount!)
(Perle d'Azur, Polish Spirit, durandii)
Looks like I'll be dining on PB&J sandwiches for the next week.

(I know, I know, I'll be thanking you this summer!)

;-) PattiOh

Diana, that Lady Chomondely climbing your sycamore is stunning. In fact, that entire corner is inspired.

Becky - I would love to have Lady Banks, but I'm afraid she would eventually get too big. I may, however, consider her for my porch once we get the siding taken off the house. Beautiful rose.

And thanks again for all the great feedback everyone. Wow, this is going to be a tough decision. You guys aren't making it any easier ;-) Just when I think I've settled on one, I see another I want. I've decided to go to Mid City Nursery and Annies this weekend and see what's available locally. I'll report back.