| Dear Monrovia, We just removed three coral honeysuckle plants from a fence on the western side of our yard. After contracting honeysuckle aphids in the spring, these 5 year old plants never recovered...despite repeated spraying with systemic insecticides. We already have Monrovia Evergreen Clematis in a shadier area of our yard but want to know which variety of your clematis is best suited for this western exposure (full sun). Based on research gathered from your website, it appears your Sweet Autumn or Jackman varieties might work. If so, are they equally hardy? Are there any specific diseases that might plague one versus the other? Are both varieties likely to lose their foliage in the winter? Lastly, I love your plants and favor them above all other growers. Thanks for providing your customers with such a wide variety of wonderful options. Regards, Joyce Gaines |
| Joyce, Thanks for the kind words. I am surprised to hear that the aphids did that much damage to the honeysuckle and that pesticides did not get rid of them. It may be that the pesticides you used were not the correct ones for aphids. Pyrethrins or insecticidal soap are low toxicity options that work quite well should aphids reappear on plants next season. I would conside the Sweet Autumn clematis to be the best by far for a sunny spot. Most other clematis like a little morning sun but really suffer in the long hot summers you have there. Keep the roots of clematis mulched and moist (not soggy) to help them do their best. Sweet Autumn doesn't require such pampering to perform well. Thanks for the question. Please stop in again soon! |
