Garrya elliptica 'James Roof' - 2011

I can never make up my mind about Garrya. It grows well here, but some days I hate the sight of it and others I love it because nothing else is flowering.

Karen - I find it always looks tatty immediately after flowering, before the new growth starts with fresh leaves. As it is trained against a wall, I cut the shoots back to within one bud of the old growth as the flowers fade which improves it a bit. For added interest, there is a clematis 'Guernsey Cream' growing through it for colour about May/June time

excellent idea..the clem!

is this the plant that doesnt mind growing in the shade? and would the same be true of the guernsey cream clematis? i have a north facing area that needs something like this - also thought of that climbing hydrangea

Sticki - yes, it will grow in some shade. Mine is on an east facing wall, shaded by a crab apple. The clematis prefers a shaded position as it bleaches in the sun; 'Nelly Moser' is an alternative

ah, thats very helpful and hopeful ~ thanks andrew ~ its on my wish list now!

The trick is to get your host established first as a clematis can easily swamp and smother a small shrub. Then you have the problem of diggng a hole close enough for the clematis's roots. Some GC's very small clematis plants (which is what I bought) which solves the problem. The clem takes two or three years to get established but then both plants are happy

ok, i shall have a look for that, thank you