December 9, 2018 at 1:55 pm (clematisinseattle, Spotlight on Clematis)
Tags: Clematis Betty Corning, clematis caroline, Clematis Climador, clematis crystal fountain, Clematis Etoile Violette, clematis fairy blue, clematis florida sieboldii, Clematis Fond Memories, Clematis Fujimusume, Clematis Koenigskind, Clematis Lord Hershel, Clematis Morning Mist, Clematis Perle d'Azur, Clematis Polish Spirit, Clematis Princess Red, Clematis Proteus, Clematis recta Purpurea, Clematis Tartu, Clematis texensis seedling, clematis the first lady, Clematis Vyvyan Pennell
June in my garden offered a plethora of colorful, diverse, and interesting clematis, including the last of the large-flowered bloomers, early blossoms from July bloomers, and three beautiful clematis bell flowers, two of which are home-grown seedlings of the dainty scarlet bells of Clematis texensis.
January 23, 2015 at 9:15 pm (clematisinseattle, Spotlight on Clematis)
Tags: Brushwood Nursery, Clematis Arabella, Clematis Asao, Clematis Barbara Harvey, Clematis Betty Corning, Clematis Candida, clematis etoile de malicorne, Clematis Fair Rosamond, clematis florida sieboldii, Clematis Gipsy Queen, clematis guernsey cream, Clematis Haizawa, Clematis Kasagai, Clematis Lady Betty Balfour, Clematis Obotozukiyo, Clematis Pauline, Clematis Romantika, clematis star of india, Clematis Vancouver Fragrant Star, Clematis Vanessa, Clematis Ville de Lyon, Clemats Alba Plena, joy creek nursery, Silver Star Nursery
Early crocus, daffodils, and tulips are tentatively poking their heads up out of the soil to test the waters (so to speak). My witchhazel is blooming. The fragrance of the Sarcococca knocks my socks off every time I go in or out the door. The Northwest Flower & Garden Show is next month. The weather has been unseasonably warm here in Seattle (though a bit drippy). So, of course, I have an early form of spring fever! I really should get outside and finish pruning my Group 3 clematis (the ones that bloom in July and August on new wood), but instead, I stayed inside and drooled over the offerings from my three favorite online mail-order sources for clematis: Silver Star Vinery, Joy Creek Nursery, and Brushwood Nursery.
Three of My Favorite Clematis
Before I get started, though, I will pause to recommend, both to beginners and to old hands a like, three of my personal favorite clematis, all which are available at all three mail-order nurseries.
Clematis ‘Gipsy Queen’
Clematis ‘Gipsy Queen’
This clematis has sumptuous and velvety deep dark purple flowers with rich red overtones on opening, then ages to a lighter reddish purple. It always stops me in my tracks whenever I see it in bloom (even if I just saw it a minute ago!). This large clematis (up to 12 or 14 feet) is always recognizable to me, even from a distance, for its size, its lush purple color, and the spacy-ness of its flowers. Its tepals spread out gracefully, leaving space between them, especially at the base, where the tepals narrow near the center of the flower like the base of a spoon, adding a special charm. C. ‘Gipsy Queen’, a sun lover, is easy to grow and comes on strong (at least for me) in late July and August when so many of my other clematis are beginning to wind down.
C. ‘Guernsey Cream’
Clematis ‘Guernsey Cream’
C. ‘Guernsey Cream’ is usually the first large-flowered clematis to bloom in my garden in spring, sometimes as early as mid-May. I am always so happy to see it’s rich creamy blossoms, sometimes with green overtones. It blooms luxuriantly for several weeks before resting for a time. If I cut it back a bit after blooming, I may get a few more blooms in the autumn. Several clematarian friends advise me to boldly cut it back really hard to get many more blooms in the second flush. I’ll try, really, I will.
Clematis Betty Corning
Clematis ‘Betty Corning’
The third of my favorites is the delightful and dainty C. ‘Betty Corning’, with its open bell-shape and soft mauvey-blue color, which shows well when paired with many other clematis or with roses. It blooms its little heart out in July and August. The pièce de résistance of this clematis, though, is its lovely light fragrance that wafts around the garden on a warm summer day. It’s another one that I just can’t be without!
Three More Recommendations from Each Nursery
As I perused offerings from this nursery, which has all kinds of vines, not just clematis, I chose three excellent clematis to recommend to you that I grow myself.
Clematis ‘Fair Rosamond’
A beautiful and easy-care early-blooming white clematis with a contrasting dark-red boss (which is all those reproductive parts clustered together in the middle of the flower). This 7-9′ vine would pair nicely with a dark-leaved small tree like Forest Pansy Redbud. It blooms in June and has a very light fragrance of violets.
C. ‘Etoile de Malicorne’
Clematis Etoile de Malicorne
This is a two-tone large-flowered spring bloomer that blends well with dark blues, dark pinks, purples, and whites. I grow it to great effect with C. ‘Ville de Lyon’, an intensely pink clematis with rounded tepals (see a photo of this clematis under Silver Star Vinery below)–though their bloom times just barely overlap. This tall plant, growing to 9-12′, blooms in May/June and pushes out a few blossoms again in the autumn, if you’re lucky.
C. florida ‘Sieboldii’
Clematis florida ‘Sieboldii’
A real stunner, C. florida ‘Sieboldii’ blooms in July and August and looks good with just about anything! It bloomed so well for me in the back garden that I had to have one for the front garden, too. It has a reputation for being a bid persnickety. Some years it blooms beautifully, then the next has only a few flowers. But in this case, even one flower is worthwhile.
Click the links below to see which clematis from Brushwood I am thinking about ordering for myself:
Clematis ‘Vancouver Fragrant Star’, because it’s fragrant.
Clematis ‘Vanessa’, because I’ve met Vanessa and because it blooms in late summer and fall.
Clematis ‘Lady Betty Balfour’, because it also blooms in late summer and fall.
Joy Creek Nursery offers many kinds of plants, but fortunately for me clematis are one of their specialties. Here are three they offer that I enjoy having in my garden.
C. ‘Asao’
Clematis ‘Asao’
C. Asao is a Japanese hybrid that blooms in May and June. The flowers are pink, gradually morphing to nearly white at the base of the tepals, nicely setting off the yellow center. This clematis often has just a few extra tepals–not enough to call it double, but enough to give the flowers a ruffly look.
Clematis Alba Plena
C. ‘Alba Plena’
This unusual and gorgeous clematis is in Pruning Group C, which means it is easy to prune (just cut it back hard in winter or early spring) and that it blooms on new wood in July and August. It’s unusual greenish-white blossoms have a large boss in the center. Sometimes this plant can be a bit finicky to establish, but the effort certainly pays off!
Clematis ‘Pauline’
C. ‘Pauline’
C. ‘Pauline’ is a spring bloomer with sweet little nodding bells and delicate leaves. I love how the dark purple color stands out against the greenery. Being an alpina type of clematis, this one doesn’t need pruning every year, though after a few years it may develop a ratty look and need a rejuvenation. It enjoys partial shade–the dappled shade of a deciduous tree suits it perfectly.
Three of the clematis that caught my eye at Joy Creek Nursery are:
Clematis ‘Candida’, because I loved it in my Boston garden–it’s flowers are so large and lovely (sorry, no photo at Joy Creek, but you can see one here.)
Clematis ‘Haizawa’, because it’s adorable — and I saw a robust specimen last summer in a Seattle garden.
Clematis ‘Obotozukiyo’, because it is so delicately pretty.
C. Star of India
The blossoms of C. ‘Star of India’ are a rich purple with a stand-out red stripe in the center. The fat tepals overlap, making for a rounded form. This beauty sports its blossoms in July and August on 9-12 foot vines. Because it’s a summer bloomer and blooms on new wood, it’s easy to prune (cut it back hard). Great for any garden with full sun.
C. Ville de Lyon
Another beauty, C. ‘Ville de Lyon’ is intensely pink with the outer rim of each tepal even darker than the inside. Once you’ve seen this one in bloom, you will always recognize it. It’s a tall clematis, often growing to 15 feet. Because it’s a heat lover, be sure to plant it in a hot sunny spot (keeping it well-watered, of course).
C. Romantika
A really dark rich color that stands out when placed against a light background such as Lonicera nitida ‘Baggesons Gold.’ Blooming in summer with numerous small flowers, it always catches the eye of visitors to my garden. Easy care, just needing a hard prune in winter.
The clematis below are calling my name from Silver Star Vinery. There may be more than one clematis per page, so you might have to scroll down to find the clematis I’m interested in:
Clematis ‘Arabella’, because I’ve admired it in so many gardens
Clematis ‘Barbara Harrington’, because I’ve admired it in the Silver Star Vinery display garden.
Clematis ‘Kasagai’, because I never heard of it and there’s no picture. Tantalizing.
I hope all this eye candy will encourage you to buy a new clematis or two!
December 15, 2013 at 6:49 pm (Clematis of the Month, clematisinseattle, Spotlight on Clematis)
Tags: Clematis florida 'Alba Plena', clematis florida sieboldii, Clematis napaulensis, Clematis Versailles
The fresh new leaves of Clematis napaulensis in November
Regrettably, a Seattle November consists of short dark days. The only blooms that showed their faces in my garden were two tired and tattered flowers from Clematis Versailles — not even worth taking a photo.
BUT … Clematis napaulensis, a wintergreen winter bloomer originally from Nepal, leafed out despite gloomy cold days! The fresh new apple-green leaves emerging from summer’s dead-looking sticks lift my heart. This plant looks completely dead in summer, so be sure to surround it with lively plants that will hide it’s morose summer nature. Wintergreen rather than evergreen, Clematis napaulensis leafs out in late fall or early winter and blooms anytime between November and March. My two-year-old plant just might bless me with blossoms this year, if the cold didn’t nip the buds (possibly even the whole plant!). The lovely scented flowers are unusual in both their looks and their time of bloom. Though the individual blooms are small (a little more than one inch), they bloom in small clusters, which engenders a sense of heft.
The beautiful and unusual winter blossoms of Clematis napaulensis.
Unfortunately, December began here in Seattle with a long deep cold spell — several days when the temperature did not even warm up to freezing. I worry that my tender clematis, like Clematis napaulensis, as well as Clematis florida ‘Sieboldii’ and Clematis ‘Alba Plena,’ may succomb. Only time will tell.
October 2, 2013 at 5:13 pm (Clematis of the Month, clematisinseattle, Spotlight on Clematis)
Tags: clematis florida sieboldii
Close-Up of Clematis florida sieboldii in September
Clematis florida sieboldii gracing the front steps
September 26, 2013 at 4:01 pm (clematisinseattle, Planting Clematis, Spotlight on Clematis)
Tags: Clematis Betty Corning, clematis etoile de malicorne, clematis florida sieboldii, Clematis Hakuju, Clematis Happy Birthday, clematis madame baron veillard, Clematis Margot Koster, Clematis Mrs. Cholmondeley, Clematis Multi-Blue, Clematis My Angel, Clematis Omoshiro, Clematis pitcherii, clematis rebecca, Clematis Rooguchi, Clematis Szisaia Ptitsa, Clematis terniflora, clematis tibetana, Clematis Ville de Lyon, Clematis viorna, Clematis Vitiwester, sweet autumn clematis
Even though fall arrived on Sunday in Seattle with rain, wind, and cooler temperatures, serveral clematis were still showing their wares. Some even starred in beautiful autumn floral combinations!
Clematis My Angel (rumored to be a thug)
A Digression
But first, let me digress about a recent sighting of Clematis My Angel. A month ago or so, my husband and I took a weekend jaunt to the quaint Victorian town of Port Townsend on the Olympic peninsula here in Washington State. We enjoyed a great lunch one day outdoors on the patio of a little neighborhood restaurant. Several houses, including the restaurant (which had been a house in an earlier life), had yards that butted up against each other with a wide and winding semi-public pathway in-between. As we were eating, my eagle clematis eye recognized that an unfamiliar clematis was cloaking an arbor about 30′ away, so quite naturally I had to investigate. It was Clematis My Angel, a hybrid of Clematis orientalis var orientalis and Clematis intricata, raised by Wim Snoeijer of the Dutch nursery Jan van Zoest. It’s a lovely clematis that blooms in August and has great seedheads. I, however, have steered clear of it because of rumors that it can sometimes become invasive, not only reseeding but also running underground. It’s lovely, though, with nodding bronzy-purple buds that open to show off yellow undersides with brown stamens. Hmm, maybe I DO need this one, after all.
Way Too Many Clematis Need Planting
Sunday I managed to plant eight of the twenty-four clematis that have somehow showed up in my potting area. Then, today, I upgraded four to larger pots–too young or too small to plant out yet. Because the eight clematis I managed to get planted this weekend are new to me, I have no photos of my own. But you can check out the links below to Clematis on the Web to see what they look like. All but one of these will join three or four others on the back fence of my property – and grow through to the alley-where they can WOW alley strollers and dog walkers!
Clematis Mrs. Cholmondeley (pronounced Chumley)
Also planted, but in a place seen from inside the garden:
Clematis tibetana (black form) (should look similar to the one at this link)
A Sampling of my September Bloomers
One of the most lovely clematis blooming in my garden now is Clematis florida sieboldii next to my front steps. I have enjoyed the one in my back garden so much that I got one last spring for the front . It bloomed beautifully for me in June, but then collapsed to the ground (wilt? broken stem? something else? who knows?). So I had to cut it to the ground – then, lo and behold, it grew a new stem and is blooming again in September! Gotta love that clem!
Clematis florida sieboldii (in my front garden)
Madame Baron Veillard is still throwing its welcome late blooms.
Clematis Madame Baron Veillard
Even Betty Corning has put out a couple of new blossoms for my enjoyment.
Clematis Betty Corning
And Clematis Sizaia Ptitsa, which has been blooming for months, is still sending out new flowers.
Clematis Sizaia Ptitsa, still going strong
Clematis Etoile de Malicorne, a June bloomer, showed off with a late and lovely blossom.
Clematis Etoile de Malicorne
Nearby Clematis Ville de Lyon is blooming with the black berries of a Hypericum.
Clematis Ville de Lyon
My Clematis terniflora (Sweet Autumn Clematis) is loaded down with buds and should burst into fragrant bloom any day now. Though Sweet Autumn Clematis blooms for me here in Seattle in late September and early October, when I grew it in Boston (much much more heat), it would bloom for me from August to October! But even with a shorter season here in Seattle, I wouldn’t be without it.
Multitudes of Buds on Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis terniflora)
Great Autumn Clematis Combos
Late blooms of Clematis Margot Koster spontaneously color-coordinated itself with a Pee Gee Hydrangea.
Clematis Margot Koster
Clematis Rooguchi Making a Comeback with Rudbekia Goldsturm.
Clematis Rooguchi
As promised, here is a photo of my Clematis viorna cavorting with the beautiful lavender fruit of Beauty Berry (Calicarpa).
Clematis viorna with the lavender berries of Beauty Berry
Two More Sweet Little Bells
Here’s a photo of a cute hybrid of Clematis pitcheri from the southeastern US.
Clematis pitcheri hybrid on a Ceonothus.
A Japanese hybrid, Clematis Hakuju has dainty white bells that bloom off and on all summer for me with the black leaves of a dark Actea (formerly Cimicifuga) and the clear green leaves and white flowers of Nicotiana sylvestrus.
Clematis Hakuju with a dark-leaved Actea (aka Cimicifuga)
What’s blooming in YOUR garden?
September 2, 2013 at 4:35 pm (Clematis of the Month, clematisinseattle, Spotlight on Clematis)
Tags: Clematis Cassis, clematis duchess of albany, clematis florida sieboldii, Clematis Kermisina, Clematis Lady Bird Johnson, clematis madame baron veillard, Clematis Sir Trevor Lawrence, Clematis texensis, Clematis viorna
Closeup of Clematis viorna
Finally, the dog days of August have come to an end here in Seattle! The weather was so hot and dry for so long that many of my clems simply shut down. Now that the temperatures have moderated and nearly two inches of rain have fallen in the last week, many of my struggling clematis are beginning to show new growth. In spite of our difficult weather, though, a few of clematis stood out in August.
The August Winner:
Clematis viorna
The hands-down winner in my garden during the month of August was Clematis viorna, a species clematis from the southeastern US that I purchased from Brushwood Nursery a few years ago. This plant, which has been blooming since early July, was not phased in the least by the hot dry weather. Every year, it blooms and blooms until hard frost (usually about mid-November for me). Soon the purple berries of the beauty berry (Calicarpa) it grows on will be in full color, making quite a show with Clematis viorna – I will be sure to post a photo when this dynamic duo struts its stuff. The vine also climbs up into my paperbark maple (Acer griseum) where it’s too high for me to deadhead. But I do deadhead all that I can reach regularly, hopefully extending the bloom time. Another plus for this clematis is that hummingbirds love it!
Last spring I purchased a second Clematis viorna from the Rogerson Clematis Collection in Lake Oswego, which I am told will have red blooms. Time will tell.
Clematis viorna, Blooming Since Early July!
The Runners Up
Clematis Cassis
Several other clematis managed to show off in my garden during August in spite of the heat and drought. First up is Clematis Cassis. I bought this one last May at Joy Creek Nursery and planted it on my deck in a pot. It immediately took a fit and died back completely to the soil level – geez. Then, in early August, it sent up a single vine that magically sported stunning double flowers!
Closeup of Clematis Cassis
Madame Baron-Veillard
Madame Baron-Veillard is a useful clematis that doesn’t even think about blooming til late August or early September. A fresh new clematis blooming this time of year is truly a treat. It’s mauve tones beautifully complement autumn perennials, like asters, colchicum, rudbekia, phlox, and many others, that are just beginning to burst into bloom. Another clematis that blooms late like this is Clematis Lady Betty Balfour, with deeper purple flowers – great if you can find one!
Fall-Blooming Mme Baron-Veillard
Clematis florida sieboldii
This scrumptious clematis just keeps on going! It bloomed continually in my garden for six or seven weeks in July and August. Everyone who came into the garden ooohed and aaaahed over this one!
Clematis florida sieboldii
Clematis Kermisina
Clematis Kermisina is a late-blooming viticella type, flowering for me primarily in August. Each carmine red tepal has a touch of white at the base, which sets off the black boss beautifully. An easy care clematis I wouldn’t want to do without.
Clematis Kermisina
The Texensis Hybrids
Of course, any garden with a clematis texensis hybrid in it will likely have blooms in August. These wonderful clematis, derived from a species clematis from Texas with small red flowers (Clematis texensis), make a bold late summer impact. One of the most beautiful is Clematis Princess Diana, but mine got swamped this year by my pushy sweet autumn clematis and didn’t bloom. And, of course, now we have the new one, white with a lavendar base, named Clematis Princess Kate. Though primarily available in Europe, I am lucky enough to have one, but mine is still too young to bloom. Below, though, are three others that were showing off in my August garden.
Clematis Duchess of Albany
This plant was hybridized in the late 1800s and has been grown in gardens ever since. I purchased mine as Clematis Etoile Rose, but recently realized that it was in fact Duchess of Albany. Lovely, nonetheless, especially cavorting in a hydrangea.
Clematis Duchess of Albany Growing through a Hydrangea
Sir Trevor Lawrence
Also growing in a hydrangea, Clematis Sir Trevor Lawrence, hybridized at the same time as Duchess of Albany, has a much darker pink color with purplish stripes (which unfortunately don’t show up well in this photo).
Clematis Sir Trevor Lawrence
Clematis Lady Bird Johnson
The last of the August bloomers I’ll show you today is Clematis Lady Bird Johnson, another Clematis texensis hybrid. In spite of a tendency toward powdery mildew (along with a few other clematis with texensis in their backgrounds), its blossoms are gorgeous with really long stamens.
Clematis Lady Bird Johnson
We’ll see what September brings. One thing I know for sure is in store for me in September is a whole lot of clematis planting! Just yesterday I counted up the pots of clematis that have settled themselves in my potting area and came up with a daunting 23. Yikes! Where oh where will I plant them all?
August 7, 2013 at 7:51 pm (Clematis of the Month, clematisinseattle)
Tags: clematis florida sieboldii, Clematis Jackmanii purpurea, Clematis Sir Trevor Lawrence, Clematis Sizaia Ptitsia, Clematis viorna, Slice of Pizza
Close-Up of Clematis Sizaia Ptitsa
My life has been crazy in recent weeks, preventing me from posting for a while. So now I have to play catch up.
Choosing the Clematis of the Month in my July garden was not an easy task. But I was up to job and, Ta DAAAAA, it’s Clematis Sizaia Ptitsa. Saying Slice of Pizza comes close to the true pronunciation for those of us who can’t wrap our tongues around the Russian name of this lovely blue clematis. It’s what I like to call a lounger — it doesn’t actually climb, but rathers lounges about on whatever support presents itself. You can see what I mean in the photo below, which shows this clematis adorning the ground at the front of the garden, as well as working it’s way through the yellow-leaved Choisya ‘Sundance’ and the white and fragrant Nicotiana sylvestrus. Check out the close-up above, too. This beautiful clematis bloomed voraciously in my July garden in spite of a drought. I do water my clems, but they can definitely feel the difference between watering and rain. Clematis Sizaia Ptitsa is still going strong now, in the second week of August.
Clematis Sizaia Ptitsa lounging about
July Runners’ Up in My Garden
Clematis florida ‘Sieboldii’
Clematis Sir Trevor Lawrence (a texensis hybrid)
Clematis Jackmanii Purpurea
Clematis viorna
Upcoming Posts
Open Gardens at Silver Star Vinery
Clematis in Germany and Holland, Part 2
December 29, 2012 at 2:55 pm (clematisinseattle, Planting Clematis, Spotlight on Clematis)
Tags: clematis bagatelle, clematis etoile de malicorne, clematis florida sieboldii, Clematis jan fopma, clematis rhapsody, clematis the first lady
Now all my clematis are in the ground! Yippee! I managed to plant the last six between downpours a few days before Christmas.
One of them, Clematis Rhapsody, is obviously misnamed. When I bought it late last spring — the flowers were HUGE and the bloom was a luscious light mauve with a reddish boss. I simply couldn’t resist. But in the process of planting it the other day, between a dwarf Pieris and a variegated Fatsia along a fence, I looked it up on Clematis on the Web on my smartphone to see what exposure it needed. Lo and behold, I realized that my plant is certainly NOT Clematis Rhapsody. The first photo below is of my clematis blooming in its pot last June. The other photo is the real Clematis Rhapsody–deep purple with a white boss. Hrmph. Unfortunately, this problem of misnamed clematis is not an uncommon occurence. If you can identify my lovely unknown clematis — please let me know!
My Plant that is supposedly C.
Rhapsody’
The Real C. ‘Rhapsody’
The other five clematis I recently planted are listed below with links to photos and descriptions on that fabulous website, Clematis on the Web. This website has incredible information and usually photos of thousands of clematis! I can spend hours diddling around there. I also use it when I’m at nurseries to look up a particular clematis. I can find out how the blooms look, when it will bloom, how to prune it, and lots more.
Clematis The First Lady, an American clematis
Clematis Jan Fopma, a clematis that lounges rather than climbs
Clematis florida sieboldiana, a second one because I love it so much
Now that all my clematis are planted (except for three that are still to small to be planted out), I guess I’ll peruse my favorite mail-order clematis nurseries. I’ll be telling you more about them later.
November 7, 2012 at 9:29 pm (Clematis of the Month, Spotlight on Clematis)
Tags: clematis caroline, clematis cezanne, clematis duchess of albany, clematis florida sieboldii, clematis jackmanii
Believe it or not, several Clematis are blooming in my November garden. Sweet Autumn Clematis and Madame Baron Veillard (mentioned in a previous post) are still blooming, though they are both beginning to wind down. My lovely yellow-belled Clematis otophora (see last post) is also still showing off its eye-catching blooms. What a beautiful clematis!
C. ‘Cezanne’
I have a few summer-blooming clematis throwing a late bloom or two. Among those are Clematis ‘Cezanne’, with a soft mauve-blue flower. This is one of Raymond Evison’s patio clematis, bred to grow to only 4-6′ tall, be very floriferous, and have a long bloom-time. C. ‘Cezanne’ blooms in a large window box for me and has several flushes of bloom throughout the summer. I think this one will be the last for this year.
C. ‘Caroline’
Clematis Caroline is a June bloomer with soft pink flowers. If you cut these June bloomers back by about 1/3 after their first heavy bloom, many of them (not all) will repeat bloom in the late summer or fall, though usually with smaller flowers. I cut C. Caroline back about a third in early July and was rewarded with another flush in September. This bloom is particularly late.
C. ‘Duchess of Edinburgh’
A double June bloomer, Clematis Duchess of Edinburgh, is also giving me a show in November. Like C. Caroline, I cut the Duchess back a third in early July and now it’s got two smaller single blooms and two buds. I hope the buds make it through the cold spell we are expecting (maybe down to the mid thirties tonight — brrrrr).
I want to show you two more clematis (see photos below). My young (first year) Clematis Jackmanii on the left has been blooming steadily since early July and still has this one bloom left. I don’t think I have ever had such a young clematis bloom so heartily in its first year. But this is the famous C. Jackmanii, the first large-flowered hybrid clematis, which came into being in the late 1850s. It’s proven itself over time and is, I believe, the most popular clematis ever. The second clematis below is a new potted C. florida sieboldii. I like my first one so much that when I saw another recently in a nursery, I snapped it up — and this one is still blooming.
C. florida sieboldii
I was hoping to be able to show you flowers on my November/December bloomers, Clematis cirrhosa ‘Freckles’ and Clematis Cirrhosa ‘Jingle Bells’, but not to be. They may well be in bloom next month, though, so stay tuned.
Activities I will be engaged in soon (in addition to trying to get 10 more clematis in the ground) are gathering seeds and cutting a few of the July-August bloomers back hard.
October 18, 2012 at 6:17 pm (Clematis of the Month, Spotlight on Clematis)
Tags: clematis florida sieboldii, clematis madame baron veillard, clematis sizaia ptitsa, Clematis terniflora, clematis ternifolia, Clematis viorna, sweet autumn clematis
Did you know that our mild Pacific Northwest climate allows for at least one clematis to be blooming in every month of the year? Here’s a taste of what I mean. In my October garden, I have two late-blooming clematis at their peak of bloom, Sweet Autumn Clematis (C. terniflora) and C. ‘Madame Baron Veillard’.
Sweet Autumn Clematis in October
Sweet Autumn Clematis is a big plant (20-30 feet) with a multitude of small white wonderfully fragrant flowers. In our climate this plant blooms in October, though in my Boston garden it bloomed for me in August and September. To be successful in the Pacific Northwest, this clematis needs to be sited in a warm spot. That’s because the flowers require serious heat to set buds and shortening days to trigger them to open. We don’t have any trouble providing the shortening days, but heat units can be a problem here. Mine seems to love growing eight feet u
p a lattice onto a west-facing deck.
Clematis ‘Madame Baron Veillard’ is a lovely mauve flowered clematis that waits til September to even think about blooming in my garden. It was named over 100 years ago for a French baroness who loved to garden.
As you can see, it has a lovely bloom that warms the heart just as the days seem to be getting shorter and gloomier.
Several other clematis are blooming in my garden now, including three that are especially showy. The one on the right is Clematis ‘Sizaia Ptitsa’ — that’ll twist your tongue, huh? A friend of mine just calls it Slice of Pizza, which is not too far off the Russian pronunciation. This clematis has been blooming for over three months and is just beginning to show signs of winding down.
Below is Clematis viorna, a species from the southeastern US with a sweet bell-shaped cream-and-lavendar bloom and wonderful seed heads. It, too, has been blooming for months and is showing off here with the lavendar berries of a beauty berry. Last, but definitely not least, is Clematis florida ‘Sieboldii’ (also below) – what a gorgeous flower!
C. viorna (species clematis)
Clematis in Seattle 