Lonicera x purpusii

are they as scented as they claim? they feature in the RHS mag this month and I am tempted. Its is so pretty.

Sbg - they are good at this time of year, but large, scruffy 'passengers' when not in flower.

Andrew that is exactly what my OH says when I say how lovely this shrub is lol

Of course you could always disguise it with a short, deciduous climber. I can recommend clematis 'Arabella' - it has purple flowers and flowers for months. It rambles over euonymus 'Silver Queen' in my front garden.

We grow Arabella a very useful Clematis...I can imagine it looks good sprawling over the Silver Queen...

This is so pretty and imagining its scent is lovely.

The article in the RHS magazine this month made me want one of everything!!

yes me too wildrose.
Now that is a brill idea I can buy another clematis and say its to improve the other shrub ;o)

I have a Jackmani through the lilac and an Alpina through the philadelphus. well I say I have it depends on if the brutal pruning my OH did has killed them.

The ground is so hard under both my shrubs, I don't think I could dig it to plant a Clem, much as I like Andrew's idea.

Oh now come on girl, where has that defeatist attitude come from? ;o))))

Start with a small spike and wiggle it around, you'll soon have a hole big enough :o)

Rather than plant the clematis close to the shrub (and disturbing its roots), dig a hole just beyond the spread of the branches. Position a cane at 45 degrees to 'lead' the clematis to the host, and it will soon get the idea.

Only if you come and dig the hole for me, Andrew. There's a seam of hard clay across the garden there....hmmph! I don't think OH would be too impressed to be asked for help, either. :-(