How to successfully pair your clematis?

With rose bushes

It’s the classic pairing par excellence: a clematis weaving its way through a climbing rose or a shrub rose. It’s quite easy to synchronise their flowering periods, especially with repeat-flowering roses and large-flowered clematis that bloom all summer. You can create a harmonious display by combining plants with similar tones, or alternatively play with contrasts to make the colours enhance each other (for example, a yellow rose with a blue-violet clematis). If you opt for harmony, pair the pink blooms of clematis ‘Hendryetta’ with those of the climbing rose ‘Blush Noisette’. For a striking contrast in form and colour, boldly combine the yellow flowers of climbing rose ‘Golden Gate’ with the surprising tousled blooms of clematis ‘Blue Pirouette’!

For a softer, more delicate atmosphere, blend white and pink: the white blooms of clematis ‘Summersnow’ pair beautifully with the pale pink flowers of climbing rose ‘Albertine’.

You can also enjoy successive blooms with clematis montana ‘Mayleen’, whose lightly scented pink flowers finish just as the blooms of the rambling rose ‘Bobbie James’ begin.

Rose ‘Laguna’ and Clematis jackmanii ‘Superba’ (copyright GAP Howard Rice) – Rose ‘Rosy Cushion’ – Rose ‘Albertine’ and Clematis fargesii ‘Summersnow’

With other climbing plants

Also worth trying is combining a clematis with another climber on a pergola or trellis, more subtle than a rose but offering renewed foliage effects or flowering displays depending on the pairing. For example, against a semi-shaded wall, you could pair the pale yellow-flowering winter jasmine with the dark blue summer blooms of Clematis ‘Trikatrei’. For a springtime pairing, opt for the white flowers of Akebia quinata ‘Cream Form’ alongside the pink blooms of the vigorous Clematis montana ‘Mayleen‘. In partial shade again, adorn the leafy backdrop of hops with a light-flowered clematis, such as Clematis florida ‘Sieboldii’. Finally, you could combine a spring-flowering clematis with the ornamental vine Vitis coignetiae, which leafs out rather late and turns fiery shades in autumn. Choose a delicate clematis for contrast, such as Clematis alpina ‘Ruby’ with its dark pink, almost red bell-shaped flowers.

Humulus lupulus (photo H. Zell), Jasminum nudiflorum (photo Amanda Slater), Clematis ‘Trikatrei’, Akebia quinata ‘Silver Bells’

In a colourful flowerbed, with perennials

We recommend in all cases planting perennials at the base of your clematis. They help maintain cool, shaded soil and enhance its flowering. You could choose, for example, alliums, masterworts (Astrantia), or Thalictrum ‘Hewitt’s Double’. Hardy geraniums pair particularly well with clematis blooms. Often pink, mauve or blue, they easily create a beautiful colour harmony with clematis. Also consider herbaceous clematis, pairing for example Clematis heracleifolia with the delicate foliage of ornamental grasses and the blue flowers of lesser periwinkle Vinca minor.

Astrantia major ‘Ruby’ – Clematis ‘Temptation’, Geranium ‘Rozanne’, Allium stipitatum ‘Violet Beauty’ (photo JM van Berkel)

In containers, with annuals or perennials

Clematis take up little space and can easily adapt to container growing. Brighten up your balconies and terraces with large planters where you can grow compact varieties paired with summer-flowering annuals or perennials. In sunny spots, the purple blooms of Clematis ‘I Am Happy’ will beautifully complement verbenas, anthemis or osteospermums. In light shade, pair the Clematis ‘Shin-Shigyoku’ with its large double purple flowers in a planter alongside fuchsias in violet and deep purple tones, such as ‘Voodoo’. Don’t forget to include the decorative foliage of ivies and ferns!

Osteospermum ‘Stardust’, Anthemis ‘White Butterfly’, Verbena vepita ‘Lavender White’ and Clematis ‘I Am Happy’

With other varieties of clematis

You can also combine different clematis varieties on a pergola or an openwork wooden trellis. Take the opportunity to extend the decorative interest by pairing a spring-flowering clematis with a summer-flowering variety boasting large blooms. Alternatively, you could aim for simultaneous flowering, playing with contrasts in shapes and colours. For instance, pair the deep pink bell-shaped flowers of the ‘Princesse Diana’ clematis with the very pale pink blooms of ‘Mienie Belle’.

To explore clematis pairings, discover our Collections!

Clematis ‘Diana’ and ‘Mienie Belle’ – Clematis ‘Prince Charles’ and ‘Brunette’ – Clematis ‘Princess Diana’ and ‘Blue Pirouette’

With trees or shrubs

Use your small trees or shrubs as supports for your clematis: in addition to adding colour, you’ll achieve an original effect. What a surprise to suddenly discover an abundance of flowers in a shrub that was only decorative for its foliage! The gnarled trunk of an old fruit tree offers an ideal support for a small-flowered clematis, for example a Clematis montana which will flower at the same time as the cherry, plum or apple tree. You could also train a Clematis fargesii ‘Summersnow’ whose countless white flowers will amaze in summer.

Cherry tree in bloom – Clematis montana ‘Freda’

In a romantic garden

To create a romantic atmosphere, choose clematis with pastel-coloured flowers in shades of pink, white or mauve. You might select the Clematis montana ‘Mayleen’, which becomes covered in spring with an abundance of delicate pink blooms. Pair your clematis with roses, whether climbing or shrub varieties, taking advantage of the long-flowering soft pink blooms of cultivars like ‘Old Blush’ or ‘Rosy Cushion’. Plant some peonies nearby, such as ‘Festiva Maxima’ or ‘Sarah Bernhardt’. Also enjoy the silvery foliage of Artemisia arborescens ‘Little Mice’ and the delicate flowering of pinks (Dianthus plumarius). Urns, fountains, sculptures or arbours fit perfectly into these romantic gardens. You’ll create a border with an exceptionally soft and delicate appearance.

Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ (photo FD Richards), Dianthus plumarius ‘Flore Pleno’ (photo Serres Fortier), Astrantia major ‘Ruby Star’, Clematis montana ‘Mayleen’, romantic border (copyright Biosphoto – NouN)