Clematis Willy | Clematis in Seattle

Clematis atragenes Blooming!

April 23, 2017 at 7:49 pm (Clematis of the Month, clematisinseattle, Spotlight on Clematis)
Tags: Clematis alpina, Clematis Blue Dancer, Clematis Cecile, Clematis Jacqueline du Pre, Clematis koreana, Clematis macropetala, clematis markhams pink, Clematis Pauline, Clematis Willy, joy creek nursery

Seattle has been drowning, drenching, and dripping for the past three months. Most days, staying reasonably dry while working in the garden has not been possible. Nevertheless, the garden is burgeoning, and the Clematis atragenes have begun to bloom. These are early spring bloomers have delightful nodding bells in many soft colors and delicate foliage. Included among the C. atragenes are C. alpinas (usually single), C. macropetalas (usually double), and C. koreanas.

I have sadly lost three of my six atragenes, C. Jacqueline du Pre (a crisp and lovely pink and white alpina), C. Cecile (a delightful blue-purple alpina), and C. Pauline (a richly colored purple macropetala). Hrmph! Maurice Horn of Joy Creek Nursery told me that he fears that the warmer weather of recent years in the Pacific Northwest has taken a toll on these cold-hardy plants. We may start having trouble growing them here. The three I lost were all against the house; the three I have left are all in the open garden, which is presumably a bit cooler, at least in winter. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.

Hmm, maybe I should buy more just for testing purposes.

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In my garden, the first to bloom (as usual) is C. Blue Dancer with its extra long sepals.

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Here’s the luscious and rosy C. Markham’s Pink, just beginning its show. I also have C. Willy, another pink and white one, but his buds are still tightly closed.

March Clematis of the Month: Clematis macropetala ‘Maidenwell Hall’

April 5, 2016 at 6:27 pm (Clematis of the Month, clematisinseattle, Spotlight on Clematis)
Tags: Clematis alpina, Clematis Blue Dancer, Clematis Cecile, Clematis macropetala, Clematis Maidenwell Hall, clematis markhams pink, Clematis Pauline, Clematis Willy

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Finally, finally in late March I got my first clematis blossoms of the season! Whooo hooo! Four clematis alpinas and macropetalas in my garden have opened their beautiful blooms! Clematis macropetala Maidenwell Hall gets the prize for March this year because this poor young plant got such a shaky start. While visiting a nursery north of Seattle in the Skagit Valley in the heat of August, my friends and I found a 90% off table. Lo and behold, there was a clematis there looking hot, dusty, and bedraggled. A friend spotted C. Maidenwell Hall first, but she kindly allowed me to purchase the plant. The plant obviously appreciated coming to a caring home, because it has most definitely perked up. It’s off to such a good start that I will be able to give my friend some cuttings! Here’s another shot taken in warm early morning light, which drew out the more purple tones.

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Clematis alpinas and macropetalas (also called alpine clematis) are among the first of the clematis clan to bloom in the spring. Their dainty bells, dangling among the delicate serrated leaves, signal the beginning of the long and continuous slide show of clematis blossoms that lasts into the winter. Alpine clematis particularly enjoy growing in deciduous shade where they can soak up the warmth on sunny spring days, but later be sheltered from hot summer sun by the tree’s leaves. These clematis, which grow to about 12-15′ or more, come in blues, purples, lavenders, pinks, and whites and are said to be hardy to Zone 3. They rarely need pruning (unlike their more unruly late-spring and summer-blooming cousins). The difference between Clematis alpina and Clematis macropetala is that the alpinas usually have only four tepals, or petals, while the macropetalas are double or semi-double. Because of much cross-hybridizing, though, sometimes the distinction is a bit hazy.

Below are photos of the other three alpinas and macropetalas blooming in my garden. Two more, Clematis alpina Willy and Clematis macropetala Cecile, are a bit shy to bloom so far this year.

Here’s Clematis alpina Blue Dancer (a former winner of Clematis of the Month). It sports particularly long tepals.