After considering trumpet and honeysuckle vines and deciding against those, I'm down to clematis as a perennial to cover the fence. When I moved in last summer, it was covered with morning glories, which was a pain to clean up the dead vines before winter twisting between the links on the fence. So I was looking for something easier and more permanent.

If I do go with clematis, can I select any that will grow 8'+ and will they just entwine on the fence growing more sideways so I wouldn't have to plant them so close? Or should I stick to varieties no more than 4' tall?

On my side of the fence, there's only about 1'-1.5' of dirt, it's next to my driveway. But the opposite side is my neighbor's full lawn, with a row of peonies right next to the fence. Will clematis start being intrusive at all on their side?

Any suggestions for varieties, etc. would be greatly appreciated. The length of fence gets pretty much full sun all day.

Edit: I should add that I'd like a long blooming season, or possibly plant a few different varieties to have continual blooms through the fall.

I have a Clematis 'Praecox' that really wants a 3'x30' fence--it climbs a little but really is a scrambling 'ground cover'--long bloom period thru summer when many other clematis are resting in my climate
It might be a little intrusive across the fence
What is the fence made of?

There are many more mild mannered clematis and I'd think you could try several
Clematis 'Arabella' I highly recommend
Star River is awesome too

The tall climbing varieties would work fine if you keep up with attaching them to the fence to go sideways, but they won't necessarily do that all of their own accord...

Sorry I'm late in getting back, snuck in a little vacation time to visit with family the last few weeks.

It's a chain link fence. I don't mind having to attach them to the fence to get them to cover it. I do worry about it being intrusive on the neighbor's side though. Unless just pruning it back would keep it in check.

For this year since I was so undecided, I'm just going to spread out the existing hostas that are across maybe 7' of the fence, they look dense enough to be able to split and spread across the entire width. Then I'll just use a few varieties of morning glories again behind the hostas and deal with the clean up when they die back. After reading more about trying to keep various perennial vines in check, it might end up being the same amount of work each season.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll check those varieties out for next year.