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CLEMATIS
Commonly known as Alpine clematis, Virgin's bower
Showy, sometimes possibly too showy, long-flowering climbers with variety of shape and colour for all the year.
Genus of more than 200 species of deciduous, twining leaf-climbers, scandent shrubs, subshrubs and sometimes woody-based herbaceous perennials from Europe, the Himalayas, China, Australasia, North America and Central America.
More than 400 cultivars are in cultivation. Native perennial Traveller's joy or Old man's beard (C. vitalba) is a plant of hedgerows and wood edges. The climbing stems can reach to 30m.
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DeciduousPale to mid-green leaves 3-5cm (1¼-2in) long with 3-5 lance-shaped to broadly oblong, toothed leaflets
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Shades of pinkAll shades of pink through to Carmine (red)Pale pink with silvery pink margins
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Height2-4m (6½-13ft)
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Spread1.5m (5ft)
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ClimberSome of these climbing plants will need trellis or wire supports if grown on walls or fences. Other grow aerial roots and are self-clingingEarly-flowering climber. Produces flowers on previous year's shoots and sometimes on new growth in summer
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Hardy - very cold winterHardy in all of UK and northern Europe. Plant can possibly withstand temperatures down to -20°C (-4°F)
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Full sunProvide shade for roots and base of plant.
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Partial shade
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Additional FeaturesGood to knowC. alpina varieties tolerate cold, exposed sites. Prune after flowering to allotted space to encourage growth for next season's flowers.Pests & Diseasescutworms, aphids on young plants, clematis wilt.Place of originEurope.
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Flower ShapeBell/LanternNodding, bell-shaped flowers 5-6cm (2-2½in) across, often with twisted sepals
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HardinessFully hardy
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Leaf marginIncised
(see photos above) -
Seasonal InterestAutumnSpring
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Soil ConditionsFertile well drained soilHumus-rich. Mulch in late winter.
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Toxic - Category CSkin irritantRabbits. C. harmful if eaten
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WildlifeRabbit Resistant
- Pruning
- Pruning Group 1 - Flowering mid / late spring
- Pruning Group 2 - Flowering late spring / early summer
- Pruning Group 3 - Flowering late summer / early autumn
- Training Climbers - Video Tip ondemand_video
Buy Varieties of CLEMATIS
CLEMATIS alpina 'Blue Dancer'
a very popular pale blue early flowering clematis.
CLEMATIS alpina 'Broughton Bride'
pendulous white flowers with slight mauve markings on the outside
CLEMATIS alpina 'Frances Rivis'
(Blue Giant) - Large blue flowers with contrasting white flowers
CLEMATIS armandii
creamy-white flowers and long leathery dark green leaves
CLEMATIS armandii 'Apple Blossom'
blush pink flowers, tinted white, from darker pink buds.
CLEMATIS armandii 'Snowdrift'
pure white flowers
CLEMATIS cartmanii 'Joe'
dwarf growing but very floriferous, white
CLEMATIS cirrhosa 'Freckles'
larger flowered form, tinged pink with maroon spots
CLEMATIS cirrhosa 'Jingle Bells'
winter flowering bell-shaped flowers of creamy-white
CLEMATIS cirrhosa 'Wisley Cream'
large creamy-white unspotted flowers
CLEMATIS cirrhosa var balearica
bronze tinged foliage in winter, flowers pale yellow spotted reddish purple
CLEMATIS x durandii
striking bright blue flowers on long stiff stems, good for cutting
CLEMATIS 'Early Sensation'
evergreen with pinnate leaves and sweetly scented white flowers
CLEMATIS florida 'Alba Plena'
large double greenish white flowers
CLEMATIS florida 'Bicolor'
(Syn. 'Sieboldii') - beautiful form with large white flowers and a conspicuous central boss of violet-purple stamens