You don't have to shade the roots, just keep them moist. That tops in the sun, roots in the shade deal is a mistake of wording. They meant they need moist roots.

Now in Houston, I grow many more. I started with the viticella hybrids and have since branched out a little more. My top performers are Emilia Plater, Inspiration and Prince Charles - perhaps the fact that these are the oldest also contribute to them flowering the most.

Clematis Container Nursery has an article on growing clematis in hot climates written by a person who lives in Atlanta and gardens in red clay soil. I would think that Atlanta's climate and soil would be similar to Dallas (except that Dallas has Blackland Prairie clay soil instead of red clay). If you click on the link, the article is a little more than half way down the list of articles and is titled "Growing Clematis in Hot Climates".

shirley-z-8-tx, that's some good shots there.

:-O

-------------------------------------
Dallas Forum

Here's an article on Viticellas that gives a lot of names that you can look up.
http://www.howellsonclematis.co.uk/Pages/Gnews4.html

Here's Brushwood's link:
http://www.gardenvines.com/shop/

Sherry