Clematisipation
The blooming of the Clematis jackmanii, with its mass of royal purple flowers, is one of the summer highlights of our garden. This year promises to set a new standard for clematis profusion at Garden in a City.
Until this year the Clematis grew on an 8′ trellis against a west-facing brick wall. The vines always outgrew the trellis, folding back upon themselves as a result. So this spring we extended the trellis another 4′, so that it now reaches from the ground up to the rain gutters.
Sure enough the vines have climbed up to the roof and are now waving about up there looking for something to grab onto with their leaf stalks.
Right now the very first flowers are opening, and the vines are covered with buds. As I like to name different parts of the garden, I think I may need to come up with something for this little corner with the big vines. At the moment I am leaning towards The Great Wall of Purple.
gardeninacity 
What a sight! A magnificent flowering vine.
It’s just getting started!
How about Purple Reign? In honor of the recently deceased Prince?
I don’t know if you kept up with the comments, but your suggestion is very popular.
Beautiful! The Great Wall of Purple sounds perfect to me.
Thanks!
Wow! This makes me totally jealous. I have a beautiful (supposedly) clematis that is four years old. It limped along until I finally moved it to a new spot this year. It is now about 6 inches tall in what should be a perfect location.
They seem to be slow to establish, so it may still do well.
Love this rich purple colour and I’m becoming a big fan of clematises.
Me too!
It’s a beautiful thing. It’s a good thing it isn’t a wisteria though. It would be pulling the shingles off.
Right, I know. I’m not willing to invest in the kind of structure that would be needed to hold up Wisteria.
Now that is a happy looking clematis…definitely worth increasing the trellis for extra growth and blossoms. I have seen clematis flowering even in dry hot Australian gardens, but not quite like that.
I picked a good spot for it pretty much by accident.
Wow! You (and your clematis) have outdone yourselves. Love Jim’s “Purple Reign” suggestion. đŸ™‚
Thanks!
Thanks!
It’s fun to see spring recreated in your garden as you are several weeks behind us. Do you prune your clematis to encourage rebloom? Some of mine have responded well.
I do prune them. For the jackmanii they recommend cutting it back to about 18″ in late winter.
That is just amazing! I’m surprised you don’t have car accidents in front of your house from people stopping to gawk! Gorgeous!
Thanks!
Oh, that is luscious. Isn’t it a wonderful feeling when some of your favorites bloom? Especially when they bloom profusely like your ‘Jackmanii’!
Makes me sigh with contentment.
Wow. Looks like your clematis trellis provides great Impact in the garden! I bet it stops traffic (if it’s alongside a street…) đŸ™‚
It can be seen from the street. Doesn’t seem to stop traffic, but we do get compliments from passersby.
I’ve been flirting with that Clematis for a couple of years now…but damn! Looks like it could eat my garden.
Seems to get pretty big when its happy. As I’m sure you know, there are plenty of smaller Clematis vines. I’ve got a couple of them also.
Your Clematis is amazing! It is obviously really happy in its spot and is saying thank you for the extra support!
The flowers are all the “thank you” I need.
I have clematis envy! It is definitely grateful for the extra trellis; could it be trained up onto the house wall too?
Who knows? Maybe it could cover the roof. Then instead of a green roof, I could have a purple roof.
Clematisipation sends like a painful condition. Eat plenty of fruit. I remember you amazing Clematis jackmannii from last year, it is the best speciman I have ever seen. It is all set to take over the world.
Hmm. That’s not the association I was going for, but I can see how you got there.
And the best is yet to come…lucky you! The purple is a great color with the white house. How much sun does it get?
Lots of hot afternoon sun. It grows on a west-facing brick wall.
Very impressive! I can’t say that I’ve ever seen a clematis in a home garden so tall before.
Neither have I, I think.
I believe that is the happiest clematis that I have ever seen.
It certainly looks happy.
Oh, glorious, glorious! The queen of flowers.
Or at least the queen of vines.
Purple People Eater?
That’s a good one.
Magnificent color and height. My jackmanii is more of a “C” student.
Maybe it needs a special tutor.
I’m impressed by the Clematis, but even more by the words you invent.
Made up words are one of my specialties.
What a fantastic clematis! What are you feeding it on! đŸ˜‰
That’s a secret, but I only feed it at night during a full moon.
The great wall of purple is perfect ! .. My Warsaw Nike needs more trellis , now I am feeling guilty that I haven’t been on top of things to give it more room as it stretches.
You did a great job and this looks amazing !
Thanks so much! I think it makes sense to give plants enough space to really do their stuff.
Oh…magnificent, and it’s only just got going! I like your suggestion but have to go with Jim’s….just loved that, very clever!xxx
He’s a clever guy.
You must have it in a perfect setting. My Jack never gets so big but he always blooms his head off. Gorgeous.
I think I did put it in just the right place, pretty much by accident.
Oh my goodness, that is gorgeous! Mine is loaded with buds, too, and, at two years old, has outgrown its five foot trellis already, waving about in the air and doubling back as yours did. Yes, I think you should name it the Great Wall of Purple! (Though now that I’ve read previous comments, I do like “Purple Reign” a lot!)
Sounds like you’ve also got just the right Clematis in just the right place!
Hello Jason, now that’s just not fair is it? I think I have a Clematis Jackmanii planted earlier this year, it was first almost completely eaten by deer and now I can’t find it because the surrounding shrubs have grown to fill in the gap that was meant for the Clematis. I’m hoping I will see some spots of purple that will indicate that it’s still alive, but I’m not hopeful.
Oh, dear. I hope it recovers!
Awesome! The trellis is finally just the perfect height for avoiding massive floppiness đŸ™‚
That was the hope.