By Harryo
Dunbartonshire,
United Kingdom 
Hi All,
We have an ivy growing on our north facing wall under our front window..It's very very healthy and well under control,which would be very easily dug up as it's only just 3 foot X 6 foot at the moment,but we would like to change this for a what...? Can anyone suggest a nice plant for this area which would perhaps give us a splash of colour during the summer months.Thanks.
Harryo.
10 Aug, 2010
Answers
many thanks for the info...I'll look into what you have kindly suggested Thank.
Harryo
11 Aug, 2010
There are some Clematis that would grow on a north facing wall, things like Nelly Moser and Hagley Hybrid, but they're not evergreen, and whilst they look lovely in flower, they won't look as good as a well grown ivy does most of the year.You could use one of the later flowering ones from the Jackmanii group, such as Niobe, John Warren, Xerxes, letting it scramble up the ivy - these need cutting down to about two buds (6-8 inches) from the ground every year in mid February, which would then give you a chance to trim the ivy, but if you usually trim the ivy in May and again in August, you'd interfere with the clematis unless you did it with secateurs and carefully.
11 Aug, 2010