Grow This Pretty Pink Perennial With Fast-Growing Ivy For A Cozy Garden Feel

There is a wonderful set of plants that you can grow to create a cozy garden feel for the exterior of your home, and it transforms fences, walls, and trellises. They can be grown together in USDA zones 6 to 9, and have similar preferences for light, soil type, and drainage. Mountain clematis (Clematis montana) produces star-shaped pink blooms in late spring to early summer, cascading along its vigorous, woody vine to create an enchanting display, while Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) ensures that you'll see year-round coverage and fall color without overshadowing the clematis flowers.

Native to the Himalayas, Taiwan, and China, mountain clematis is one of several climbing plants that will fill your garden with heavenly scents. It climbs 16 to 40 feet high and spreads 8 to 15 feet wide when it has a sturdy support and well-drained, organically rich soil. Boston ivy complements it extremely well, sharing the same light preferences and introducing its climbing ability using its adhesive pads. The minimal floral display of the ivy allows mountain clematis to remain the focus while creating a dense, evergreen backdrop for clematis' flowers to rest against. 

They are ideal plants for gardeners seeking a soft, cozy duo to plant as companions. Both are plants that will work in a vertical garden, and there are ways to ensure that they grow together as healthily as possible.

Mountain clematis and Boston ivy thrive so well together because their growth habits and environmental preferences are close matches. While mountain clematis grows rapidly along trellises or fences, Boston ivy forms a mat of leaves that can shade clematis' roots, keeping them cool and moist. Both plants tolerate full sun and partial shade, and their shared preference for well-drained soil rich in organic matter makes site selection simpler for gardeners who might be unsure where to plant them. 

Mountain clematis produces large, beautifully pink flowers from late spring to early summer. But there's no need to worry about Boston ivy's small, greenish, and largely inconspicuous flowers overshadowing them. These remain hidden beneath its foliage, ensuring that your clematis blooms remain the visual focus of your garden. In the fall, Boston ivy transforms to brilliant shades of red and scarlet, which keeps your garden colorful as the pink clematis flowers fade. They are, without a doubt, one of the best climbing plant pairings for your garden.

Both perennials are perfect if you're looking for coverage and vertical structure. However, while they are both low-maintenance plants, it's important to bear in mind that clematis benefits from pruning after flowering, and Boston ivy may need periodic trimming to prevent overgrowth or attachment to vulnerable surfaces such as painted walls or gutters.