A very large yew hedge, as substantial as a bison, nuzzled my shoulder as I admired an autumn clematis tumbling over its back.

Winter-hardy twining vines include silver lace vine, sweet autumn clematis, American bittersweet and gold-flame honeysuckle.

Sweet autumn clematis, as it is commonly known, is white and fragrant and grows like a weed in the fall.

The king of all the railroad vines at this time of year, however, is the sweet autumn clematis (Clematis maximowicziana).

She also suggested trumpet creeper, sweet autumn clematis, climbing hydrangea - and climbing roses.

The best example in my own garden right now is a wildling sweet autumn clematis (C. paniculata) that has insinuated itself into a large unclipped yew.

I was thinking of autumn clematis but fear deer will eat that, too.

September blooms include Japanese anemone, chrysanthemums, tricytris and autumn clematis.

Prune at Your Own Risk Q. We have a large sweet autumn clematis growing against our house.

But a well-established sweet autumn clematis can usually come through almost anything.