Which type of clematis?

[tootrueblue]

I'm after a long-flowering white clematis for my garden fence. Any recommendations please? I'm a bit lost with all the varieties!

Size will help to narrow it down.
Eg. Montanas are huge, Boulevard series are small.

I'd like it to grow to the top of our 6ft fence and then spread horizontally ideally

I have a lovely one with creamy white flowers. It’s called avalanche. Flowers are not big though they are quite small if that’s a requisite?

I'd say Montana, there's one growing over a wall near where I live and it looks spectacular at the moment.

www.rhs.org.uk/plants/clematis. thorncroftclematis.co.uk/ There are lots of different types to choose from. I;d avoid a Montana for a 6’ fence as it will overwhelm it and they really only flower in late spring/early summer although they are spectacular. The RHS and Thorncroft websites both have advice on selection.

I'd go with a Montana. Yes they can get big but they're also beautiful not difficult to manage - you can easily prune it if it's getting too big.

Id go with an alpina. Many varieties, mainly blue or dark pink, followed by attractive fluffy seedheads. You could add a tangutica or a viticella for another burst of flower later onwww.rhs.org.uk/fruit/apricots/grow-your-own

Thanks everyone - I'll have a Google at the suggestions!

Sorry, I d missed that you wanted white!

I planted 'Guernsey Cream' two years ago. It's doing well despite being planted against a north-west facing fence. It's just started to bloom in the last week.

That's gorgeous! I'm glad it's flowering already.

Winter beauty?

I have a Clematis Early Sensation which has been blooming for 6-7 weeks now. It’s compact enough though so won’t spread like a Montana but it looks spectacular.

Oh that's pretty

I'll take a look, thanks @Blogdog

If you don't think you'll stay on top of the pruning, don't get Montana. They are beautiful when in flower, but they are complete thugs.
If you do go for plants with different flowering times, watch out for the pruning - it differs with different types of Clematis.

Thank you. Any advice on an alternative to a Montana please? I do want one to climb but perhaps not get too unruly!

My mum got me one a couple of Christmases ago, as she'd seen one at her friend's house.
It was beautiful last year, but then last summer I removed the trellis to expand the garden and unfortunately lost it.
I've just brought another one from J Parkers and have potted it up to plant out later this year.
www.jparkers.co.uk/clematis-anshunensis-winter-beauty-collection-1

GAH! Saw a beautiful Clematis at a Hillier's garden centre - white with a lavender edge. But I can't remember its name! If you have a Hillier's near you, go and have a look. Actually most garden centres have Clematis coming in now. You might have to go by the picture as the plants will have lots of buds but mainly unopened.

Clematis fall into three groups.
Group 1, includes Montana, early flowering, prune AFTER flowering.
Group 2, early flowering, prune BEFORE growth starts, early spring.
Group 3, late flowering, prune before growth starts, early spring.
I like Pistachio. Group 3.
The one I saw yesterday is probably a group 2.

Sorry to derail but my clematis has almost no flowers. It used to be covered in them. I haven’t pruned it much, a little bit last year but well after flowering . It is a Montana and was so lovely but year on year now there are fewer flowers. This year hardly any !
What am I doing wrong ?

@DaleTrimont Montana flowers on previous year's growth so if you are leaving it too long after flowering to prune, you could be cutting off the flowering growth.

I haven’t pruned it this year, can’t remember if I did cut it last year, but it would have been after flowering. Maybe too late in the Summer do you think ?
It isn’t flowering even where it is too high for me to prune though.

I love the Montana and had one at the back of our old garden. It was beautiful at this time of year. If you've got a sturdy 6ft fence to cover I'd say it was perfect. I tried with other varieties last year at our new place and the only one that has really taken is the Montana. Snails seem v partial to other varieties and they got eaten.