Clematis 'Bijou'

I wonder if my slope would be too shady...

This is in a fairly sunny spot. Could you make room for it near the top of the slope Annie? It's well worth growing...it's lovely..this photo doesn't do it justice.

Yes the best soil is at the top too, the only part I can improve and the drainage is good.

They do like to be kept moist, but with your clay, that shouldn't be an issue!

Got to get this one!!

I think this one is a must for every garden...but then I would wouldn't I!!

I'd be tempted to put one of the blossoms in my hair, if I had that many:-) Just bought my only Clematis last week: Julka. Do you have that one? Just wondered if you thought it might be doing ok, as I've lost some in the past.

No poodle. I've heard of Julka, but I've never grown it. What type is it.....I'll go and have a look....the type 2s are tricky up here. We get too strong winds and it wrecks them, and it's too cold, and the growing season is short....and apparently they do prefer a bit of an alkaline soil, where ours is mostly acidic. My type 2s are all a bit hit and miss I'm afraid, but still worth a try. Now then...Julka........oh yes, a type 2. I wouldn't bother pruning it at all if I were you, just leave it and see how it does next year. If it starts to get too straggly you can prune it a little then. Just give it a tidy up in the late winter when you see it starting to grow...IF you see it starting to grow...lol...good luck! It's a beauty!

Well, that's an education! Thank you for checking it up for me. Won't blame myself if it doesn't do so well then. The people that sell them know why they tie such lovely pictures to the plants. You really have to do your homework I gather, something I'm not particularly good at. Thanks for the time you took and the advice about pruning as well:-)

Well, so far this year about 2/3 of my type twos have flowered. I have no flowers yet on one of my Niobe, Crystal Fountain (but I moved it last year) Josephine is also flowerless, Will Goodwin has disappeared altogether (but again, I moved it and they don't care for being moved). No flowers yet on Kiri Te Kanawa or Mrs Spencer Castle or even Betty Corning...but they will probably all flower later in the year. You can tell from that list, that I am not great with type 2s!! I tend to stick mainly with type 3s. They are easier to care for, less prone to wind damage and they flower from July on to the first frosts, so I get lots of late colour from them which is great for extending our short summer season. Not much homework required really, just look at the label when you buy, it will tell you which type it is. General rule to follow is; if it blooms before June, don't prune. After that basically type 3s can be cut down to the ground in the winter and type 2s don't need a lot of pruning, but do need a lot of tying in, feeding and watering as they are prone to wind damage, slug damage and fungus damage. Mostly wind damage up here I find! Well worth the effort though if you have the time and patience as their flowers are usually huge and very beautiful! :)) ENJOY!!

Oh, and plant them at least 2" deeper than they are in the pot, so if they do get damaged you have a chance of getting new shoots from under the surface later on.