We are used to pairing clematis with roses, but there are hundreds of other combinations to be explored. Many plants offer limited interest for long periods of the year, so why not extend the season by partnering established trees and shrubs with a clematis?

Small garden trees, such as apple trees, make an ideal host for Clematis viticella. I adore seeing its late-summer flowers appearing like a second blossom alongside the swelling fruits in August and September. Clematis viticella ‘Purpurea Plena Elegans’ is the classic choice, having been grown in European gardens since the 16th century, but there is now a wide range of other varieties to choose from.

If you have a very large, deciduous tree in your garden, you can experiment with something more vigorous. Clematis montana can grow as high as 10m into large trees, where it produces a dramatic show of flowers in late spring. I especially like the antique pink of Clematis montana ‘Broughton Star’ against the purple foliage of a grand copper beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Purpurea’) or Norway maple (Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King’).

Similarly, with evergreens, add a late-flowering clematis that requires hard pruning every year. Cut it back after flowering to avoid ruining the evergreen’s structure with decaying clematis foliage. For a bold flash of red in the summer, try Clematis ‘Avant-garde’ or, for a more refined combination, try the moody tones of C. ‘Rosemoor’ or ‘Etoile Violette’. And if you are looking for a more naturalistic froth of flowers, it’s hard to beat the delicate white blooms of Clematis flammula – which looks particularly spectacular combined with holly.

Ceanothus is another excellent host for clematis. The larger, spring-flowering varieties can often support a montana, while summer-flowering specimens make a fine accomplice for Group 2 clematis such as ‘Lawsoniana’, because they share the same pruning requirements. I like to combine Ceanothus ‘Autumnal Blue’ with C. ‘Ice Blue’ whose flowers – white with a pale blue flush – grow up to 20cm in diameter. However, the simple flowers of ceanothus can be an excuse to go for something a bit more extravagant: if you are feeling daring, try the double, frilly pink C. ‘Empress’ or the showy ‘Crystal Fountain’.

Buddleias are great with the lavender-blue Clematis ‘Arabella’ or the dramatic dark-purple ‘Miranda’. Both cultivars flower non-stop from spring to late summer and will actually benefit from any hard pruning your buddleia requires to keep it in check. Other silver-leaved shrubs such as Garrya elliptica gain from an association with Clematis viticella ‘Palette’, which has delicate purple-veined flowers fading to white at the centre.

The purple foliage of Cotinus ‘Royal Purple’ or Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ provides a dashing contrast for Clematis ‘Wisley’ or the late-flowering white Clematis ‘John Huxtable’, but can also marry beautifully with the soft pink of ‘Comtesse de Bouchaud’. In fact, the list of possible combinations is almost endless. The golden rule to remember is that the most successful partnerships have the same pruning requirements.

Stockists: Taylors Clematis (01302 700716; www.taylorsclematis.co.uk); Raymond Evison Clematis (01481 245942; www.raymondevisonclematis.com); Thorncroft Clematis Nursery (01953 850407; www.thorncroft.co.uk)

HOW TO PLANT

Plant the clematis at least 45cm away from the base of the tree or shrub, so that they are not directly competing for moisture or nutrients. Prepare the planting hole well with a mix of garden compost and bonemeal. Loosen the roots, and plant.

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