Clematis armandii need the protection of a sheltered wall to do best (Mine is on a southeast facing wall) and also it is a good idea to add well-rotted manure or garden compost and bonemeal at planting time. Water in well and mulch (a pebble or gravel mulch is ideal by a wall). If you plant against a wall make sure it is positioned well away from the base (up to 30cm). This is because the soil under a wall is generally very dry. The hole you plant in should be deep so as to allow the first 10-20cm of the stems to be below the soil surface. Keep it well watered in the first year. You never mentioned if you shaded the roots of your Bees Jubilee when you had it planted in the lawn. If it was in full sun and had plenty of water then the problem may have been as a result of not giving it enough shade at the roots. It is compact and so ideal for a container but the problem is making sure it is well fed and watered. I would not give up just yet because a lot of satisfaction can be derived from resurrecting an ailing plant. Hope this helps. Jane

Hi Jane, after reading what you said i think the problem with the Armandii might be that i did not plant it deep enough, i certainly didn't plant 10 - 20cm of the stem in the ground. Would it still flower so well though, if not planted deep enough? It is in a sheltered spot and the roots are covered with slate chippings.

The bees jubilee was also covered with slate chippings at the roots. When i put it in the pot i kept it in full sun but again the roots are covered with slate chippings. Since ive had it, it has never looked that well, im gonna give it another week as it has two more flower buds on it as i want to see how they come out first. Then if it still looks naff i think it will have to go in the bin.

thanks

tina

The idea behind planting the stems 10 to 20 cm below ground level is to provide an insurance policy against the dreaded clematis wilt. This can sometimes happen in the first few years. The plant can suddently wilt for no apparent reason. The usual advice is to cut back the affected stems to ground level and hopefully new shoots will grow from the base. Covering the first 10 to 20 cms keeps that part of the stem healthy, thereby providing a means for regrowth. As for lack of flowers, from my own experience I know that the first couple of years can be disappointing, but often perseverance pays off. If its appearance really bothers you, perhaps you could try planting it in a less prominent position. Many clematis are happy to grow through shrubs and can be nurtured until well established and producing an abundance of flowers which will delight you. Good luck, Jane

Might the slate chippings prevent the plant from getting enough water? Dry roots could be part of the problem.

Clematis need to be kept well watered. I have never used slate chippings myself, so can't comment. Has anyone else had experience with them?

i am baffled by the continued popularity of clematis armandii - frankly, it is a rampageous thug which looks sordid for 10 months of the year - and the promised scent is the merest whiff of a musty vanilla, WHY?

I am growing my armandii as evergreen cover for a bare wall, together with parthenocissus henryana for autumn colour. Hope this works, just have to wait and see. I like trying unusual combinations. Anyone else tried this?

The slate chippings I dont think are a problem, I havent used them before tho, i knew i had to cover the roots and as my patio and path is covered in slate chips i thought i'd use that. I dont think the watering is a problem either, they are watered regularly. I have cut back the Armandii but not a lot, I just cut off the dodgy looking bits and i'll see what happens. The bees jubilee I have done the same too, I will see what happens when i get back from my hols. I also went out and bought another one he he, its called "Ville de" something very dark pink. I agree to a degree Campanula, Armandii does look naff for quite a while but the flowers are very beautiful, mine didnt have much of a scent when it flowered and I was disappointed because that was the main reason I bought it.