Clematis - Old Man's Beard, Travelers' Joy

(Clem'atis)

DESCRIPTION: This is a large group of hardy and tender, climbing perennials that grow wild mainly throughout the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. They are available in a wide variety of shapes and colors. They differ in their habit of growth and the period in which they bloom. They are suitable for climbing over a trellis, tree, or shrubs or for being trained against a wall or porch. The leaves of these vines may be whole, or divided into pointed, oval-lance-shaped segments. They may be dark gray-green or blue-green. Clematis are divided into two groups; one group consists of the species and their hybrids (a cross between two species) and the other consists of the large-flowered Clematis. C. alpina is a hardy species with stems, up to 8 feet long, covered with leaves consisting of nine leaflets. In mid- to late spring, blue or violet-blue flowers, centered with a tuft of white petaloid stamens, open. They are followed by silky seedpods. C. alpina var. Ruby is a medium-sized variety with rosy-red flowers and creamy staminodes. C. florida Sieboldii is a gorgeous, medium-sized plant whose blossoms resemble the Passionflower. The white flowers are 3 inches wide centered with contrasting violet-purple petaloid stamens. C. patens 'Barbara Jackman' is a hardy cultivar belonging to the large-flowered group. From late spring to early summer, large flowers, 6 inches wide, are produced. They are dark violet banded with magenta and centered with pale yellow stamens. C. jackmanii 'Jackmanii Alba' is also a hardy vine from the large-flowered group. Its white blossoms are veined with blue and grow up to 5 inches wide. The early blossoms are double; those that come later are single.

POTTING: Grow Clematis in moist, fertile, well-drained soil in a sunny position. The hole should be at least 18 inches wide and as deep as the depth of the topsoil will allow. A mixture of equal parts good topsoil and well-rotted manure or leaf mold should be used to fill in the hole. A handful or two of bonemeal would also be beneficial. The location for your plant should be chosen carefully. The hole shouldn't be near the feeder roots of any shrub or tree up which the Clematis is to grow, nor should it be too close to the trunk. A cane can be placed at a slant between the Clematis and its support so the vines can be trained toward it. When growing against a wall, note that the base is usually sheltered from rain and Clematis will not thrive in dry conditions; to prevent death, don't dig the hole too close to the structure. Water your Clematis while they are still in their containers and again after they are planted. Large-flowered Clematis should be planted deep enough so that the crown is 1 to 3 inches below the surface. Clematis planted in the spring need to be watched carefully until fall and watered well whenever dry. The roots of the Clematis need to be kept cool, therefore mulch with decayed manure or compost and plant a shallow-rooted, low growing, ground cover underneath. Clematis are pruned according to the group to which they belong. The Florida, Patens, and Lanuginosa groups produce flowers on the previous year's growth. Pruning consists of trimming the old flowering growths right after flowering. Older, crowded plants can be pruned hard in late winter, but the first crop of flowers will be lost. The second group contains Jackmanii, Viticella, and Texensis. These Clematis flower on the current year's growth, often in late summer and fall. Pruning for this group consists of cutting back to within 12 inches of the ground in late winter or early spring. Old, unpruned plants will become spindly at the base.

PROPAGATION: Seeds may be sown in the fall, plants may be divided in the spring, or they may be increased by layering, grafting, or cuttings. Sow the seeds in shallow pans filled with sandy soil and place in a cool greenhouse. Layering can be done at almost any season, however, September is the best time. Bend shoots and peg them down with pegs or large stones. Cuttings may be inserted in a frame kept closed for a few weeks. Clematis seem to produce roots better from the piece of stem between the nodes or joints rather than from the joints themselves.

VARIETIES: Species and their hybrids -

C. aethusifolia; C. akebioides; C. alpina & var. Columbine, Frances Rivis, Frankie, Helsingborg, Pamela Jackkman, Ruby, White Columbine, White Moth, Willy; C. armandii & var. Apple Blossom, Snowdrift, Bill MacKenzie, Blue Bird; C. campaniflora; C. chrysocoma & var. sericea; C. cirrhosa & var. balearica, Freckles, Wisley Cream; C. durandii; C. eriostemon 'Hendersonii'; C. flammula; C. florida & var. Alba Plena, Sieboldii; C. forsteri; C. jackmanii; C. jouiniana & var. Cote d'Azur, Praecox; C. macropetala & var. Jan Lindmark, Lagoon, Maidwell Hall, Markham's Pink, White Moth, White Swan; C. montana & var. Alexander, Elizabeth, Freda, Freda Grandiflora, Marjorie, Pink Perfection, rubens, Tetrarose, wilsonii; C. orientalis; C. pitcheri; C. rehderiana; C. Rosy O'Grady; C. serratifolia; C. tangutica & var. Aureolin; C. terniflora; C. tibetana subsp. vernayi; C. triternata 'Rubromarginata'; C. vitalba; C. viticella & var. Abundance, Alba Luxurians, Kermesina, Minuet, Purpurea Plena Elegans, Royal Velours, White Swan.

Large-flowered Clematis (These are all medium-sized, hardy vines that can withstand temperatures as low as -30º F.) -

C. Florida & var. Belle of Woking, Duchess of Edinburgh, Proteus, Sylvia Denny.

C. Jackmanii & var. Comtesse de Bouchaud, Gillian Blades, Gipsy Queen, Jackmanii Alba, Jackmanii Superba, John Huxtable, Madame Baron Veillard, Madame Edouard Andre, Madame Grange, Mrs. Cholmondeley, Niobe, Perle d'Azur, Rouge Cardinal, Star of India, Victoria.

C. Lanuginosa & var. Beauty of Worcester, Carnaby, Dawn, Edith, Fair Rosamond, Fireworks, Fujimu-Sumi, General Sikorski, John Warren, Lady Northcliffe, Nelly Moser, Silver Moon, William Kennet.

C. patens & var. Asao, Barbara Dibley, Barbara Jackman, Bees Jubilee, Countess of Lovelace, Daniel Deronda, Dr. Rupple, Elsa Spath, Kathleen Wheeler, Ken Donson, Lady Londesborough, Lasurstern, Lincoln Star, Lord Nevill, Marie Boisselot, Miss Bateman, Mrs. George Jackman, Mrs. N. Thompson, Multi-Blue, Pink Champagne, Richard Pennell, Royalty, The President, Vyvyan Pennell, Wada's Primrose, Will Goodwin.

C. viticella & var. Ascotiensis, Duchess of Sutherland, Ernest Markham, Etiole Violette, Lady Betty Balfour, Madame Julia Correvon, Margot Koster, Polish Spirit, Venosa Violacea, Ville de Lyon.

C. Texensis & var. Duchess of Albany, Etoile Rose, Gravetye Beauty.

Go see DICTIONARY OF BOTANICAL NAMES.

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