The Blooming Clematis
The clematis is blooming so beautifully this season.
I've always loved these flowering vines, and over the years I have grown many varieties of this lovely plant. When I purchased my Bedford, New York farm, I knew I wanted to build a long, winding pergola, where I could grow beautiful clematis. After the pergola was constructed, I concentrated on creating a palette of blue-flowering cultivars, and each year the floral display gets better and better.
Enjoy these photos.
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- There are several different varieties of clematis planted under my winding pergola. Each pair of posts supports the same kind, and every year they come alive with gorgeous colors and forms.
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- Clematis is a genus of about 300-species within the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. The name Clematis comes from the Greek word “klematis,” meaning vine.
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- Clematis is pronounced KLEM-uh-tis, and is native to China and Japan and known to be vigorous growers.
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- This flower has also been called traveler’s joy, virgin’s bower, leather flower, or vase vine.
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- The standard clematis flower has six or seven petals, measuring five to six inches across. Colors range from deep purple to lavender, white to wine red, and even a few in yellow.
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- For this area, I chose various shades of purple, blue, and lavender.
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- Some of the flowers are very light – almost white – with interesting colored centers.
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- Many clematises are lightly scented. Flowers vary in shape and sizes. They can be flat, tubular or bell-shaped and can be as small as one-inch wide.
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- The uprights for this pergola are antique granite posts from China originally used as grape supports. They’re perfect as posts because they don’t rot over time like wood does. I purchased a couple hundred of these posts, but I wish I bought more.
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- Copper wire is wrapped around each post, so the climbing tendrils of the clematis vines could attach easily.
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- Known as the “Queen of the Climbers”, Clematis plants will train onto trellises and fences, or arch gracefully over doorways.
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- Some clematis cultivars will bloom in partial shade, but to really thrive, they need at least six hours of sun each day.
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- Some of the cultivars grown here include “Blue Angel’, ‘Jackmanii’, ‘Parisienne’, and ‘Eyers Gift’.
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- Clematis prefer moist, well-drained soil that’s neutral to slightly alkaline in pH. For soil that tends to be acidic, it’s a good idea to sweeten it periodically with limestone or a little wood ash.
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- This is Clematis viticella ‘Betty Corning’, which has slightly fragrant, bell-shaped flowers that bloom from summer to fall.
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- It typically grows to six-feet tall and features single, nodding, pale lilac flowers with recurved tips. ‘Betty Corning’ was first discovered growing in Albany, New York in 1932.
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- Here’s a variation in pink.
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- The timing and location of clematis flowers vary. Spring-blooming clematis flower on side shoots of the old season’s stems. Summer and fall blooming vines flower on the ends of only new stems.
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- It is important to understand how each cultivar blooms in order to properly prune them. Every variety should be cut back to about four or five inches from the ground in late winter or early spring the first year after it is planted – to promote a bushier, stronger, tighter growth habit.
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- We planted more clematis across from my undulating pergola, at the base of my bald cypress trees. We used twine to support these climbing vines against the trunks of these handsome trees.
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- It can take several years for a clematis vine to mature and begin flowering prolifically. To shorten the wait, purchase a plant that’s at least two years old.
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- The blooms appear constantly for many weeks making their everblooming nature a must-have in any garden.
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- Every year, these clematis vines look more and more beautiful. If you don’t already have clematis in your garden, I hope this inspires you to plant one or two or even three…
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- On the outside of the pergola are the tall stems of the lilies that will soon burst with bold orange color, transforming the entire pergola garden once again – I can’t wait to show you.
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