- Clematis () ------Clematis is the quintessential flowering for Twigs gardens. Clematis is known for its numerous , -stems may be ribbed or grooved, becoming slightly varieties, groups, hybrids, and , many of exfoliating and semi-woody with age which have an abundance of large, colorful, showy -young stems are fragile at the juncture of the roots flowers that bloom for several weeks in summer. and stem, and can be cut or bent during transplant handling or after rejuvenation pruning FEATURES Trunk Form not applicable -small, semi-woody, ornamental vine USAGE -maturing at 5-20' in length, Function depending upon type -structural cover for trellises, fences, arbors, -twining vine growth habit mailboxes, rock walls, columns, or other upright (climbing by petiole twining structures much more than by stem Texture twining) -medium texture in foliage and when bare (many are -rapid growth rate bold- or fine-textured when in flower) Culture -open, average, or thick density in foliage and when -full sun to partial shade; often bare best placed in partial sun, Assets especially in more southern -very showy prolonged flowering climates Liabilities -prefers moist, well-drained, moderately fertile soils -many cultivars are very slow to establish in the that have a cool (mulched) root zone, but is rather landscape adaptable to average soils and soils of various pH -stem rot or stem borers may destroy individual stems -there are several disease and pest problems, back to the base of the vine during summer including stem rot, clematis borer, and root-knot -dead leaves may remain on the through winter nematodes -winter dieback or overall vigorous growth often -abundantly available in containers, with many necessitates late autumn or late winter pruning species, hybrids, and cultivars - can get moderately out of control -roots must be kept cool in a well-drained soil for Habitat establishment and optimum growth -Zones 4 to 8 for most species and hybrids -in northern climates, most Clematis need to be -Native to various parts of the world, depending upon pruned rather severely by late Mar. due to winter species dieback -most Clematis need a lattice-type support structure SELECTIONS to climb effectively; they will not climb smooth Alternates columns or other such large structures -other perennial flowering vines (Campsis radicans, -most Clematis can be pruned hard every late autumn Hydrangea anomala ssp. petiolaris, Wisteria or late winter, since most flower on new growth; floribunda, etc.) however, a few species or cultivars flower Cultivars – Variants – Related species exclusively on old wood -many species and many more hybrids (sometimes Foliage organized into hybrid groups) exist, primarily -opposite leaves may be simple, ternate, or selected for floral color(s), bloom period, and/or compound, depending upon type and position on the mature plant size; some popular cultivars: stem, with their 1-2" long twining petioles -'Ernest Markham' - light red-violet 4" wide flowers, -ovate leaflets, with acute to acuminate apices and flowering on new wood in June palmate veination -'Henryi' - white 5" wide flowers with purple -medium green to dark green in summer; autumn , flowering on old wood in June and later in color green to yellowish green and ornamentally the season on new growth ineffective -'Nelly Moser' - pale mauve 5" wide flowers with a Flowers deep pink bar in the center of each sepal, flowering -many floral choices of on old wood in June and later in the season on new size and color, growth depending upon type -Clematis x jackmanii - deep purple-blue 5" wide and flowers with subtle yellow stamens cover this -sepals are usually vigorous old-fashioned hybrid in June, quite possibly white, yellow, pink, red, the standard by which all other Clematis are judged violet, purple, or blue, -'Lady Betty Balfour' - blue-violet 4" wide flowers, or sometimes bicolored flowering on new wood in July or with bars, either -Clematis ternifolia (= C. maximowicziana; C. solitary or with several paniculata) - Sweet Autumn Clematis - creamy flowers per white, 0.5" wide, four-sepaled, mildly fragrant inflorescence miniature flowers cover this quick-establishing and -bloom period of late vigorous species in Sept.; foliage is semi-evergreen May through mid-Oct. to evergreen; vines may reach 30' or more in length at for all types of maturity, but can be rejuvenated and kept under Clematis, with spring, summer, or autumn flowering control by pruning back to the base in late winter or periods for individual cultivars early spring - - Golden Clematis - golden- -fruits are semi-showy on some cultivars, due to their yellow 2" long flowers hang like bells from the stems persistent curving styles that are attached to the in July, with the sepals partially folded together central cluster of hidden seeds