Small Space, Big Impact: Cultivating Clematis in Urban Gardens
Clematis, often envisioned as vigorous climbers scaling trellises and weaving through shrubbery, are renowned for their ability to complement roses with their spectacular blooms. However, the world of clematis extends far beyond the sprawling garden. For those with more modest outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, or compact urban gardens, a new generation of clematis varieties is proving to be the perfect solution. These smaller, more manageable cultivars offer all the charm and floral beauty of their larger counterparts, but are specifically bred to thrive in containers and limited areas.
This year, at the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show, award-winning Guernsey clematis breeder Raymond Evison Clematis is formally unveiling three new varieties designed with smaller settings in mind. Each of these new introductions is expected to reach a height of only three to four feet, making them exceptionally well-suited for pots and containers. This allows even the smallest urban garden to enjoy the breathtaking display of clematis flowers.
The new introductions include:
* C. Ithemba: This striking variety boasts pure white blooms, each elegantly adorned with a delicate pink bar down the centre of its petals.
* C. ‘Eliza’: A large-flowered cultivar, ‘Eliza’ undergoes a beautiful colour transformation as it matures, starting as a pale blue and gradually deepening to a pure, pristine white.
* C. ‘Queens Nurse’: This cultivar presents a rich and vibrant display, featuring deep, rosy-pink flowers that are sure to catch the eye.
These new clematis varieties are already available for purchase through the Raymond Evison Clematis website and are set to appear in good garden centres across the country from mid-April.
The Container Advantage: Perfect for Patios and Balconies
Even if your gardening ambitions are confined to a single large pot on a city balcony, a smaller clematis variety can be the ideal choice. Andy Jeanes, international sales and marketing director at Guernsey Clematis, highlights their suitability for urban environments.
“They’re perfect for a small urban garden, because they’re only going to get to about four or five feet tall,” Jeanes explains. “Containers are perfect. You could have them against the back wall of your house or plant them in the garden as they don’t take up much horizonal space, it’s all vertical.”
A significant advantage of these compact clematis is their flowering habit. Unlike some larger varieties that can develop woody stems at the base with flowers clustered at the top, smaller cultivars produce blooms from the very bottom of the plant right up to the apex. This creates a fuller, more visually appealing display, with large flowers gracing the plant from top to bottom. These varieties typically burst into flower during the spring and summer months, offering a prolonged period of vibrant colour.
Beyond the New Releases: Exploring Diverse Dwarf Varieties
The innovation in compact clematis isn’t limited to a few breeders. Other growers are also producing unique and charming dwarf types. A notable example is the Dutch-bred Clematis tangutica ‘Little Lemons’. This variety presents a distinctly bushy habit, appearing quite different from its more substantial relatives. It is an excellent choice for patios, rockeries, hanging baskets, or even larger window boxes.
- Clematis tangutica ‘Little Lemons’:
- This cultivar typically reaches a modest height of just 45cm.
- It produces an abundance of small, yellow, nodding bell-shaped flowers over an extended period, offering months of visual interest.
- Once the blooms fade, they are replaced by attractive, fluffy seedheads, which add a further decorative element to the plant.
Essential Planting and Care for Containerised Clematis
Successfully growing clematis in containers requires attention to a few key details. For the new Raymond Evison varieties, Jeanes recommends a minimum container size of 18 cubic inches (approximately 450cm cubed). Crucially, all containers must have adequate drainage holes.
“Clematis hate to be wet over winter, so you’ll need plenty of drainage, good free-draining compost,” Jeanes advises. He also suggests underplanting the clematis with smaller bedding or trailing plants that can spill over the sides of the container. This not only adds visual appeal but also helps to keep the clematis roots cool and shaded.
Watering should be moderate – never overwater. A good practice is to begin feeding the plant with a high-potash feed, similar to a tomato feed, as soon as the first flower buds appear. Continue this feeding regime until just before the first flowers open, then cease. This slight stress on the plant can encourage even more prolific blooming.
Showcasing Clematis in Hanging Baskets and Window Boxes
Dwarf clematis are also perfectly suited for planting in hanging baskets or generous window boxes. Here, they can be trained to cascade downwards, creating a stunning visual effect among other plants.
In his book, Clematis For Small Spaces, Raymond Evison champions compact varieties such as C ‘Bijou’ ‘Evipo030’. This cultivar, with its soft violet-blue flowers, typically grows between 30-60cm and is ideal for small to medium-sized containers, as well as window boxes and hanging baskets.
When planted in a hanging basket, these clematis will send out stems that trail gracefully over the edge. To enhance their beauty, Jeanes suggests pairing them with plants that have grey foliage and mauve flowers, creating a harmonious and sophisticated colour palette.
“They look fantastic in hanging baskets,” Jeanes agrees. “Instead of growing up, they cascade down.”
Providing Support and Companion Planting
Even compact clematis grown vertically in containers will benefit from some form of support. Simple canes or a decorative frame can provide the necessary structure.
“They are semi self-clinging, so they need some structure. They’ll hold on to a cane and twirl around it, no problem,” says Jeanes. For thicker supports like posts, you may need to gently tie the stems in. For thinner supports, such as string, the clematis will readily find their way up.
Creative Container Combinations and Summer Dormancy
For a truly eye-catching display, consider mixing two contrasting clematis colours in the same pot. This can create a dramatic “wow factor” and a unique visual statement. After flowering, clematis can be tidied up by deadheading, much like a rose, which can encourage a further flush of blooms.
Maintaining cool roots is essential for clematis health. In containers and baskets, planting other species around the clematis helps to create a beneficial micro-climate.
“Mix planting in containers with foliage plants such as thyme, saxifraga or any similar ground cover or trailing plants, or bedding of any mix,” Jeanes recommends.
During hot summers, when temperatures consistently rise above 27°C, clematis may enter a period of summer dormancy. This can manifest as the foliage turning slightly yellow, giving the impression of drought stress. However, Jeanes cautions against overwatering during this phase.
“One of the biggest killers of clematis in the summer is people thinking that they’re too dry. So don’t overwater them.” The most reliable way to check if a plant needs watering is to feel the soil moisture with your finger.
As temperatures begin to cool in late August and September, the clematis will typically resume growth, and you may be rewarded with a second wave of flowers. This resilience and adaptability make dwarf clematis a rewarding choice for gardeners of all levels, especially those looking to bring a touch of floral grandeur to smaller spaces.
