Brightening up gravel corner.

[Butterflyfern]

I have a corner of my garden that is just a square of gravel. (About 3m x 3m) In summer we have a dining set on it, and pots around the edges, but it still all looks a bit bare.

We only really see the back fence (as opposed to the side fence) as that is the view from the house, the other corner houses the shed and the last plant in the flower bed before the gravel is about 6ft high in summer.

So I was thinking about planting a clematis or passion flower and training it along the back fence. Is this a good idea?

I'd be planting into the ground under the gravel (through the weed membrane). Will I need multiple plants for good coverage? Would I need to plant in the middle and fan both ways, or am I better getting two / three plants and growing them in one direction?

Any recommendations for a particular clematis type that grows fast, and flowers well? I'm pretty clueless about both clematis and passion flowers, apart from liking how they look!

The fence they'll be growing on is easy facing and sheltered btw

Anyone?

I had a Jasmine do very well on an east facing wall many years ago. It was a plain green one but I might look at Jasmine Fiona Sunrise for a brighter alternative now.

I have a similar sized gravel patch. Like you, I have pots along one side. In the middle, I've made a 'water feature' using a large flower planter and solar fountain. I've also got about nine different lanterns grouped together which I put candles in if I'm sitting out in the evening.

I hadn't thought about jasmine... (Odd as I have a lovely winter flowering one on the other side of the garden). Would smell lovely too, a bonus over clematis.

Thanks!

I like the idea of a water feature! I've been mulling over where to put one for a while, perhaps this is my chance. I like having my table in the middle (only spot really big enough for it), but a small water feature in the corner of the gravel closest to the middle of the garden could work. My neighbour has fish and listening to the water gurgling is lovely

I have a couple of faux plants amongst the real pots for year round colour.
winter beauty clematis is lovely for winter interest.

Just thinking in the shower, you could have a look at the growing conditions for Lonicera Henryi Copper Beauty, Trachelospermum, and Clematis Armandii for evergreen options, and other clematis to add flowers through the year.

Try planting a climber in a pot.
I've just planted a passion flower & a jasmine in pots to go along my east and west facing garden walls.
The pots are on a gravelly bit in between the patio and the lawn.
The person in the garden centre said depth is more important than width for their roots so I got a couple of tall, narrow planters from homebase and they're thriving.

Clematis Armandii is a great idea - evergreen, winter-flowering and a terrific scent.

Clematis: roots in the shade, heads in the sun. It's in the buttercup family (ranunculaceae) and as a general rule of thumb they enjoy a bit of coolness at the roots. So not ideal for gravel and sun.

Interesting comment about clematis scent. I love the vanilla scent of the early montana varieties. They always look vigorous too. Maybe consider Clematis montana 'Rubens' (Montana Group)?