Climbing companions

If you’re gardening in a tight space and looking for maximum colour, why not try growing roses and clematis together? Tamsin Westhorpe suggests some great combinations

- Tamsin Westhorpe

CLEMATIS have played a large part in my life for many years. My great-uncle was John Treasure of Burford House Gardens in Worcestershire and his garden was dripping in clematis.

At 16, I started my gardening career working in his nursery. John was often described as the ‘Clematis King’ and even has one named after him – Clematis ‘John Treasure’. The clematis in John’s garden were, more often than not, planted through other shrubs. They were rarely pinned up uncomfortably against trellis. As a very novice gardener, I clearly recall the excitement of spotting a clematis flower from among a shrub or climbing rose. For a second you wonder where it’s come from until you see the stems weaving their way up and through the bush.

Planting clematis through a shrub suits them as they enjoy having their roots in the shade and their top growth in the sun. There’s also no need to tie plants in or aid them up supports as they find it a breeze to clamber up their prickly partner.

There’s an art to pairing up clematis and roses, and for success you need to do a little planning and make decisions. Do you want them both in flower at the same time or do you want them to bloom one after the other to extend the season of interest? Personally, I can’t resist them flowering together.