Site Selection: Aspect

Light levels in Australia are very high, and so is the temperature. Clematis do very well in high light, but combined with the temperature, especially in summer, fading and burn't foliage can be a problem.

* Clematis need protection from the late afternoon sun during summer. This can be achieved if you have an obstruction such as a wall or a tree. If you don't have some sort of protection, a clematis facing west will probably cook.

* Clematis need at least six hours of sunlight to flower, so a clematis facing south will either fail, or if grown on a fence, will do poorly until it reaches the light at the top...and then the neighbours will enjoy all the flowers. Using the compass to the left as a guide, you may find a suitable position in your garden. The compass is of course only a guide, so either side of the green area is still worth a go.