Today was the day. The wind was calm, and the sun shined down upon my quest. My first rose in the back garden, ‘Cl. Old Blush’, but affectionately known around here as the Dowager Duchess, groaned under the weight of the evil autumn clematis. DD was just beginning to break dormancy, as she is always the first and last rose to bloom, but, twelve feet up in the sky, I could see her straining beneath the autumn clematis’s dead blooms.
Do you ever regret planting something in your garden? I mean, at the time, it seemed like a good idea, but after a couple of seasons, you realize you’ve let loose a monster in your midst?
For me, autumn clematis is one of these. It came here as a small and innocent looking plant, but those ivory blooms belied a terrible, secret desire for world domination. After the first season, I should have listened to my friend, Katie, when she said that she didn’t trust a plant which did so well in Oklahoma weather. Like the lotus eaters in Odysseus, I was seduced by autumn clematis’s foamy blooms and didn’t listen. By the second season, I was spending every available moment yanking the clematis back under control.
Laughable really.
I knew we were in trouble when the clematis starting re-seeding itself throughout the garden. Suspiciously, it often chose places where other pricier clematis grew making it difficult to catch it before it had the unsuspecting plants in a strangle hold
This afternoon, I heard the pleas of the Dowager Duchess and after clearing away the dead leaves at the base of the rose, I found her completely encircled by an already growing (spring has sprung) autumn clematis. With spade and hoe, I hacked away at the clematis’s roots while trying not to disturb either the rose’s roots or the earthworm population.
I think I’ve won Round One, but I doubt I’ve won the war. Only time will tell.
I’ve been battling with autumn clematis’s just as evil twin, Lemon Lace Vine. Always love to read your perspective on plants!
three words: pink evening primrose.
That made me smile. We have it dotted on Oklahoma hillsides next to the highway. Tells me not to grow it.~~Dee
Kind of you to help a senior member of the aristocracy. Autumn Clematis sounds like it has a lot of verve! Which always interests me as “invasive” often means “will survive in my garden”. Do you think it would be so rampant in a hot, dry summer here in 7B?
.-= Daffodil Planter´s last blog ..A passion for Narcissus ‘Passionale’ =-.
Thanks DP. Yes, I think it would be rampant. Just choose carefully where you put it. Mine had no supplemental water if that gives you an idea.~~Dee
I don’t have things I regret planting as much WHERE I planted them. My autumn clematis was always on its own arbor, so I have always appreciated its place in the garden.
Ilona, yes, I have that problem too.~~Dee
Don’t you hate to fight with plants? War is never a good thing. I haven’t had the luxurious growth you have experienced with this plant. We all have some thug pushing everything else out of its’ way.
.-= Layanee´s last blog ..Nepal – Phase IV – Seti River Camp =-.
Yes, I hate war, but sometimes, I must take them out. Feelin’ like Rambo now.~~Dee
It seems that every gardener has a story about an unruly plant that finally needs to be removed. (Mine happened to be Physostegia virginiana ~ definitely didn’t leave up to its common name, Obedient Plant.) I hope you have successfully removed the Clematis and that the rose will thrive now that it has been freed.
Oh, I have that one too Kate. I hate obedient plant.~~Dee
Oy, I’m doing the same thing! Only I didn’t plant the autumn clematis. It just appeared and I was seduced to leave it. Now it’s here and there and mostly in the wrong places. I was just pulling it up today. More pulling to come. Your rose will be so thankful. That’s a nice arbor it’s on.
.-= Jean´s last blog ..Early Spring Heirloom Daffodils =-.
Autumn clematis is a real problem in southern states where it never has enough winter kill. In northern climes, I understand it is better behaved.~~Dee
I am soooooooooo glad you told us how invasive this plant is. I had it on my list of plants I wanted to purchase this spring. I think I will skip this one. Thank you for the warning.
.-= Kclily´s last blog ..Keeping Busy =-.
Yes, don’t be fooled by its foamy beauty. In Oklahoma, it can be very aggressive and possibly invasive.~~Dee
In my yard the hops vine acheived a round one victory against the copper archway with the assistance of some heavy snow. Crash! Copper arch became copper poles: round two I award to myself. The snow is really piling up here, so we’ll see where round three falls. As to “do I ever regret planting something,” I don’t think the comment portion is long enough to contain my list.
Christine in Alaska
Oh, Christine, I’m sorry to hear about your copper arch. How sad. Oh, I have several regrets on my list.~~Dee
I agree autumn clematis is a bit unruly, even here in Michigan, but you can cut it back fairly severely and it’s all good.
Hi Monica, I think further north, it’s a fun plant instead of a demon.~~Dee
I love your arbour. I hope you are able to reclaim it from the clutches of the autumn clematis.
.-= melanie´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday =-.
Thanks Melanie. I love it too. I have a few more because I love climbing roses.~~Dee
I fear the war for the Rose has just begun. The Clematis will probably rise, Hydra-like, with even more shoots, but you’ve given the Duchess a chance to shine again.
.-= Mr. McGregor’s Daughter´s last blog ..Sustainability – Testing the World’s 1st Compostable Chip Bag =-.
MMD, I think you’re right. I will prevail though because I am a stubborn garden. 🙂 ~~Dee
I would love to have a climbing rose like this–so lush and beautiful! I’m so glad I made it here today, Dee, or I might have made the same mistake. I bought a new arch trellis last fall and decided to wait till this spring to put it up. I had thought I’d plant a couple climbing roses…and some sweet autumn clematis. I’ve always loved the look of the “Sweet Autumn,” but now you’ve given me reason to re-think this. By the way, any particular climbing rose cultivars you would recommend?
.-= Rose´s last blog ..Book Review Club: "The Help" =-.
…and they send their progeny out into the garden! I’ve dug this plant up so many times I’ve given up counting. She is such a seductive plant each fall, you almost want to forgive her aggressive…but, she’s no lady. Throw her out of the Kingdom, after all The Duchess needs protecting. Gail
.-= Gail´s last blog ..Of Course Your Mind’s On Your Garden! =-.
Hey Gail, they are extremely fertile it seems. 🙂 ~~Dee
I had two Sweet Autumn clematis for about three years before they died on me. But the bindweed has yet to be vanquished.
.-= Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening´s last blog ..Forced Bulbs: Garden Bloggers Bloom Day February 2010 =-.
I fear this is just the beginning, Dee, sad to say. The Duchess is quite extraordinary and beautiful and worth the battle, however long it lasts! We innocently brought that clemmie to this house while the girls were still living here, to help disguise the chain link fence. The seedlings still grow after being dug and cut for fourteen years. It is unkillable. We have the non climbing Old Blush, this reminds me to get out there and prune her. Come one spring!
.-= Frances´s last blog ..Blue Snow =-.
Virginia creeper. Isn’t it funny how we’ve all got “that plant”?
.-= Susan Tomlinson´s last blog ..‘Nuff Said =-.
Yes, but Susan, you didn’t invite Virginia creeper to set up shop in your garden. It probably just came in courtesy of the birds. I invited Autumn clematis, held open the door and said “Come on in.” Silly me.~~Dee
The clematis is wild here. You never notice it (unless it’s choking your garden) until it blooms and then you see it everywhere. I have one I am managing with a careful eye and nearby pruners.
Les, I am sorry it is native there.~~Dee
Every rose needs her hero or heroine as in this case. Seems you arrived just in time! DD will no doubt bloom as never before to show her thanks to the Brave D who rescued her!
.-= Carol, May Dreams Gardens´s last blog ..Thoughts on Seeing The First Crocus Blooms Turn Back Into Buds =-.
Congratulations on winning round one! In Connecticut, I could never get my autumn clematis to take off – but there’s clearly a dark side to this plant…
.-= Cyndy´s last blog ..Signs of Life: Front Garden =-.
Ihaven’t had that kind of trouble with the autumn clematis but the Chocolate vine, akibia (?) is giving me fits in one spot in my garden. I have hear this abou AC but maybe it doesn’t like my area as well. The porcelain vine is one that I tore out after the second season. I saw it growing in a park nearby. I thought that was too good to be true.
I love your arbor and of course you must free the Duchess! Sometimes we plant something and hope we can easily control it. It’s best to be strong and do as you did.
.-= Leslie´s last blog ..A Visit To The Seed Bank =-.
Of course you had to chop it down, Dee, but sure wish the clematis hadn’t turned out to be a thug for you.
I wonder if the colder weather of Illinois is less of a treat for this vine than the warmer soil of Oklahoma? Back when we lived up there Sweet Autumn Clematis grew on our garage where it smelled good, looked pretty and wasn’t a problem. I found only two seedlings in 10 years of growing it so didn’t think of it as invasive. But after hearing your tale of woe do not think I’ll try it in Texas!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
.-= Annie in Austin´s last blog ..Pierced by Punctuation on Muse Day =-.
Wow, Old Blush is worth rescuing, for sure. Can’t wait to hear the continuing saga of the Clematis battle. Your Oklahoma quote reminds me a bit of Groucho Marx: I wouldn’t want to belong to a club that would have me as a member.
Oh, wow, Dee! The DD is glorious and I’ll bet she’ll reward you richly for freeing her from the clutches of the clematis! I’ll cross my fingers for you that the latter will be knocked for a loop, if not totally thwarted.
.-= Cindy, MCOK´s last blog ..A Little Post =-.