Combining clematis and roses

[happypig]

I have been gifted the David Austin Gertrude Jekyll rose which I want to grow on an obelisk with some clematis

I have early sensation clematis, Montana, Myleen, John Paul 11, alpine and viticella

Which is the best to combine with it and how many should I use?

Thanks

Also have arabella, Pililu, earnest markham and etoile vinette

Personally, I would suggest you work out which Pruning Group each of your clematis belongs to (the RHS website will tell you if you search the name and then scroll down to the pruning info). I think Group 3 are the easiest to prune - late Feb each year, cut back to to about knee high and it will flower on this season's growth.

You are going to need to keep on top of pruning if you are growing up an obelisk, and if you mix up the clematis groups, it becomes quite hard to work out which is which when it comes to pruning. Then you accidentally end up cutting off the wrong stems which affects its flowering... learn from my mistake!!

Off the top of my head Etoile Violette is Group 3 which would be the group I'd go for. Plus the deep purple flowers will look lovely with Gertrude Jekyll.