Which climber?

its a shame about 'elizabeth' i have this through a cherry& yew. what about a winter flowering clematis or even a winter honeysuckle? i also allow the yellow winter jasmine to cascade over the holly and the dormant hydrangea. you could go for some of the large leaved ivy types. what does any one else think?

Don't know if a passion flower would work but it certainly grows quickly and has amzing flowers which attract lots of Bees. Alternatively a Jasmine is a beauty for it's intoxicating aroma! just my two pence worth. ; )

Both suggestions give me extra "food for thought". I had given some thought to a large leaved ivy, but I have just had to remove one as it was cascading down a wall near to some steps and was causing a danger for access to the steps, (can't think of its name) . With the path being narrow, as it is, I would not want to keep chopping it down.
I had thought of Actinidia Kolomikta with its pink splashed leaves, but this does read that it needs winter protection. Have you had any experience with this climber?

lovely area by the way I just had to say I'd love to have an area like that in my garden!

Hi - you could try a golden leaved hop (Humulus lupulus 'Aureus') - lovely coloured foliage although it will die back in winter. Similarly an ornamental vine (Vitis coignetiae) would give lovely autumn colours but again nothing in winter.

You could try a rambling rose and then let a Clematis alpina variety grown through it to extend the season of interest. You could even get a clematis viticella grow as well and have flowers at both ends of the main season.

Lovely looking spot by the way!

Wow loads of suggestions, I am overwhelmed at the response and it certainly has helped. The Vitus coignetiae would be wonderful, but I feel that the area is a bit small for this climber, which would quickly become invasive as it just loves to grow. I have had to remove one recently as it was impeding steps and making it quite dangerous for access and this was even after pruning it twice a year. The pathway is quite narrow and has to remain as wide as I can get it in order to allow wheelbarrow access. The hop sounds interesting and I will have a look at this plant. I like the idea of both clematis as these species do not create the "dead" wood that the montana does and there is something going on at both ends of the season and I much prefer the smaller flowering types. Again, thanks to everyone.

How about Vitis vinifera 'Purpurea' plus Clematis for each end of the season? That is not invasive - I've got both and know EXACTLY what you mean about the other vine!

It is such an attractive climber and would 'go' so well with purple Clematis with the deep leaf colour and lovely shape.

I also have the golden hop...it is dreadful to cut off in the winter or spring...tendrils like wire rope. It is also a bit of a thug!

Thanks for this Spritzhenry. The old tree trunk is situated on a bank so can't really put in anything there that needs a lot of maintenance because I have to "perch" on the bank to prune/cut back, so the least attention the better. I have looked on the RHS website and it looks very attractive and would be a good backdrop to a flowering clematis. Good suggestion, I like the idea of this and although loathed to take the Montana Elizabeth out as she looked wonderful in her heyday, it would be good to make a complete change and add something totally different.

You're welcome.

The Hop would definitely be a 'No-no' if you can't get to the area easily. One of mine grows right up into my Poplar tree and with several tendrils, too. My secateurs have a job to cut through them - and then heaving them out is a real chore! I have to wear tough gloves or my hands would be cut to shreds!

Have you considered that you'll need to choose Clematis from groups 1 or 2? Or you'll have the problem of getting to the bases to cut back in the spring.

I have a great purple one in group 1 - C alpina 'Helsingbord' and I am not sure if there is a late flowering one in group 2, but my 'Vyvyan Pennell' does flower twice, and is a group 2. Just a thought. You will know whether you can get to one in the area you have, for pruning.

What I thought of doing is planting the clematis either side of the tree trunk which would be much easier for me to get to. I had the Elizabeth planted at the top of the bank with chicken wire on the tree stump and as the clematis grew circled it around the trunk attaching it to the chicken wire.
This worked well until I ended up with lots of dead wood, as happens with the montana group. If I did plant a Vitis as well I would plant this at the top of the bank to cascade down. Does this all seem feasible? Nothing is managed that easy but if it looks good then it is all worth it.
I have noted down the two clems and am getting quite excited about making the change. Thanks

cant you cut C.montana down hard and it re grow? A previous neighbour used to do that with his every 5 yrs or so. then you'd still have lovely elizabeth to enjoy.

I did do this with a Montana on a fence and another over the garage and they sprung to life quite nicely after a couple of years. The Elizabeth on the old tree stump was particularly woody and wet and "stringy" at the base, with only two very weak offshoots. So at this stage I am not sure whether there is any life left in her. The root is in fact still in the ground as I could not get access to it to dig it out, so it may spring to life again. In the meantime, just in case, I want to replant something to cover up the ugly stump.

Yes, my Vitis is trained onto wires - it isn't one of those with tough tendrils that can't be cut through easily, so it could either sprawl down or be trained up!