You've gotten some great suggestions! I love bower vine too, especially the variegated forms. Another good candidate is 'Tangerine Beauty' crossvine (Bignonia). I've had one on a hot south facing wall for three years here in Scottsdale, AZ and it's done great, blooming off and on all year. I was torn between it and bower vine, but since I like hot colors, I went with the crossvine. Here's a pic of mine: 'Tangerine Beauty' Bignonia vine This is NOT the same plant as trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) which is beautiful and aggressive in many climates. Mine has been very well behaved. Like bower vine, it needs help climbing, although unlike bower vine, it also produces small tendrils which help it grab on to vertical surfaces too. Hopefully you'll get some more suggestions too. Let us know who the lucky winner is and how it works out. Take care, Grant Here is a link that might be useful: My orange crossvine on a south facing wall

To begin with, the clematis that was planted originally is a type III clematis that generally does need trimming back on a yearly basis. If it is not pruned yearly, the existing stems will get woody over time and any flowering that happens will happen higher and higher on the new wood that is produced each year. Perhaps that was the cause of the diminishing blooms this past year. In addition, it may be suffering from water, sun, and nutrient competition if it is planted in an area where there are large trees and other shrubbery. Any clematis planted in these types of conditions will fail to thrive unless special attention is given to its water and nutrients needs (can't do much about the sunlight). Perhaps with four of the trees removed, this will remedy the light situation in the coming years. Since you are interested in clematis that don't need pruning like the Comtesse does, I have consulted several books that I have and am providing a list of type II clematis that are listed as being able to tolerate shade. Just realize that it is difficult to determine how much shade on a quantitative scale that they require to actually flourish but at least you will have some names of varieties to try since trial and error is going to be your best bet to determine which, if any, will work in your location. From "Simply Clematis" by Edith Malek: Asao Barbara Dibley C. W. Dowman (never heard of this one) Carnaby Charissima Dawn Fairy Queen Gillian Blades Josephine Lincoln Star Louise Rowe Nelly Moser Otto Froebel Peveril Pearl Pink Champagne Proteus Scartho Gem Silver Moon Wada's Primrose From "Clematis for Small Places" by Raymond Evison: C. alpina cultivars C. macropetala cultivars Veronica's Choice Alabast Angelique Cezanne Chantilly Clare de Lune Dawn Fujimusume Guernsey Cream Ice Blue Silver Moon Twilight Having multiple books on clematis I could continue on but this should give you something to start with. Perhaps someone who gardens in a similar situation as yours will chime in and give you some real life choices as well. Good Luck!

Barb, Your bromeliads wouldn't work in this particular situation. Thanks, Robin

A thread has been started on this in the suggestions & comments forum. If you want a FAQ for vines, please take a second to speak up in that thread and ask for one. Thanks! : ) Here is a link that might be useful: FAQ for vine forum.