Belonging to the viticella group C. ‘Emilia Plater’ has small to medium, blue-violet flowers with darker veins and a bar. The anthers are cream or green-yellow on white filaments. Introduced in 1986 by Brother Stefan Franczak he wrote: “this clematis commemorates Emilia Plater (1806-1831), the brave officer, who, at the age of 25, was killed during the Polish November Uprising (1830-31) against the Russian Empire. She is recognised as the symbol of Polish women fighting for their country’s independence. Many artists – poets, writers, and painters – have used her as a motif in their work.”
C. ‘Étoile Rose’ is another viticella. The small, bell-shaped flowers range from silvery-pink to deep pink, with pale yellow anthers on white filaments. Raised in France by Lemoine et fils they introduced C. ‘Étoile Rose’ in 1903.
Thanks to Michael Warren for the image of these 2 clematis and the others on page 33 and inside the back cover.
C. ‘Emilia Plater with C. ‘Étoile Rose’
Section 1 Your Society
Welcome to The Clematis, 2023-24 edition
Greeting from Lizzie Gibbison, Chair of the BCS
Well, here we go again. I continue to chair the BCS along with our hard working committee. We ended 2022 with another edition of our annual journal. I felt it appropriate to include a photograph of C. FOREVER FRIENDS ‘Zofofri’ that has been flowering so well in our new garden in Cranleigh.
This year’s Journal brings us to the end of another year; it is full of wonderful photographs of our favourite genus together with interesting articles. I should like to thank our contributors, our editor and proof readers.
We had a wonderful meeting at the AGM in April. This was our first face-to-face national meeting since the start of Covid. It was lovely to meet up and talk to lots of old friends we hadn’t seen for so long; it was a great day. We will be doing the same in 2024 at the same venue in Fladbury, near Pershore, hopefully without the very wet weather preceding the meeting that caused severe flooding affecting some members trying to reach the hall. The AGM is on Saturday 27th April 2024. No visiting speaker for this meeting as we feel members need more time to meet, talk and share; we are inviting members to send photos of their gardens and clematis so we can share them on the big screen at the hall. You’ll be able to talk about your photos and what’s special about your garden and your clematis. Hopefully we will have a wonderful visual display. Or you could bring plants or other related topics to talk about. We will be able to talk about your photos and have time to share amongst friends. Photos in advance please to Julian, as jpgs, so he can compile a PowerPoint presentation before the meeting. Send to: secretary@britishclematis.org.uk
A few weeks after our 2023 AGM the BCS had a very successful weekend at RHS Wisley. This clematis and iris weekend was shared this with the British Iris Society. It was located in the wonderful Hilltop building, the Home of Gardening Science. It was a joy to be in such a comfortable exhibition hall. Lots of visitors came to see us over the 2 days. We talked with lots of people answering their questions about clematis and how to grow them. We had plenty of clematis to sell and we virtually sold out by Sunday afternoon.
C. FOREVER FRIENDS ‘Zofofri’
C. YUAN ‘Evipo082’(rose-pink) and ISSEY ‘Eviopo081’ (cherry-red)
Due to the strange chilly Spring weather many of the plants were not in full bloom but this didn’t affect sales. For the first time we were able to offer card payment as well as cash, which boosted our sales considerably. Many thanks to all members who helped. We are back at Wisley at the end of May next year, again for a weekend sharing with the Iris Society (25th and 26th May).
Two items of note from this year:
One of our members reached her 100th birthday; I spoke with her and she sounded in good spirits – belated birthday greetings from us all. The other is the sad news that Keith Treadaway passed away earlier in the year. There is a short appreciation of Keith and his love a clematis on page 25. It is always sad to lose members.
Our weather across the UK has continued to be odd and very variable (cold, hot, wet, dry) but most plants have done well, although the prolonged cold at the start of the year did kill off a number of plants in many gardens. In my own garden the clematis have been their best ever and the garden is looking fantastic.
So, whatever you may be doing enjoy every moment.
Lizzie. See you all in 2024.
BCS AGM and National Meeting, 2024
Saturday 27th April 2024 10.30 – 3.30pm (times to be confirmed)
Venue: Fladbury Village Hall, off the A 40, near Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 2QB
AGM: 11.30am approx.
Clematis in our gardens: short talks by members with photographs
Free to members (donations welcome).
Plant table, raffle. Hot drinks provided. Bring your own lunch
The BCS during 2023: review of the year
Julian Noble, Hon. Secretary
Your committee has held regular on-line meetings through the year.
Our AGM took place in early April, in Fladbury, Worcestershire, our first face-to-face indoor meeting since 2019. We had a good attendance despite the travel problems due to flooded rivers and fields that affected some members on the journey. Members enjoyed meeting up again. The formal AGM was held in the morning. The same team of officers and committee members were elected to run the Society for a further year. The minutes of the meeting were sent out in one of our Newsletters. After the lunch break, we listened to a talk about Sezincote, a nearby country mansion and estate.
C. CEZANNE ‘Evipo023’
Our 2024 AGM will be held on Saturday 27th April, again in Fladbury.
At the end of April, we shared a weekend at RHS Wisley with the British Iris Society. This was based in the excellent Hilltop building using the spacious Garden Room, their meeting and exhibition space. Being indoors made for a much more comfortable environment than when we have been in a marque on grass for previous Wisley events.
Being at a major garden such as RHS Wisley means we can meet and talk with the gardening public about clematis. We stock the sales table with quality plants from a wholesale grower, Baldwins of Liss in Hampshire. Having an excellent selection of clematis resulted in visitors’ questions about the best clematis for their garden and how plant and prune it.
By the end of Sunday we had sold 190 plants, with 70% of visitors paying by card. We ended with a reasonable surplus for Society funds even after purchasing the 2 pop-up banners, a huge roll of black fabric for the tables and other expenses.
RHS Hilltop, Wisley Gardens
Our display of seasonal clematis was more limited than planned due to the cold spring weather, with many plants coming into flower 3 or more weeks later than in recent years. We supplemented our display with some of the clematis now available as cut flowers, including varieties like C. AMAZING OSLO ‘Zo11108’ and C. INSPIRATION ‘Zoin’, bred in The Netherlands and grown in East Africa. It was a very successful weekend and thanks are due to the hard work of the small team of volunteers: Lizzie, Annette, Denise, and Keith, plus Vanessa Penn from RHS Wisley. We return to Hilltop on 25th and 26th May 2024, again teaming up with the Iris Society.
If you have a local flower or horticultural show and would like to run a BCS advice stand, please let me know so we can provide you with leaflets, display materials and support.
The committee agreed to make a donation of £1,000 to Perennial, the gardeners’ charity that supports those working in horticulture who are in need.
Communication with members continues via our Newsletters supplemented by “In Touch”, our shorter news sheet. All these are sent out by email; we have email contact details for over 85 % of members. We posted out a printed version of the February newsletter with the AGM details to those members without email details. For future Newsletters please send in any news items or details about how things are in your garden (whether it has been parched, waterlogged or frozen solid for days this year!) – Glenn Rowbottom will be delighted to hear from you. His contact details on p. 13.
The BCS Midland Group members continued with their garden visits and a recent indoor meeting – their report is on p. 17. Thanks to Laurie Jones for his hard work organising these events with support from Charne Griffiths.
Change of contact details or bank details: please let us know of any changes so we send things to the correct address (postal address or email) and use the correct bank details for any standing orders. Ken Black looks after the Society’s membership – contact details on p. 13. Also contact us if you would like to Gift Aid your membership, if you don’t already do this.
Clematis and Iris weekend April 2023: some photographs on the next page
Setting up the display
The AMAZING clematis
Clematis as cut flowers
C. x cartmanii ‘Joe’
C. ‘Emerald Dream’
Clematis for sale
Renewing Your Membership for 2024
Annual memberships are due for renewal on the 1st of January each year.
Ways to do this
ų By cheque addressed to the British Clematis Society and sent to the Membership Secretary at the address below.
ų By PayPal via the British Clematis Society Website www.britishclematis.org.uk
ų By Annual Standing Order Mandate which can be downloaded from the British Clematis Society Website or obtained from the Membership Secretary.
Whatever method you choose, please ensure that you provide an identification reference such as your name or membership number.
During 2022 volunteers continued to undertake the running of the society’s affairs which would be expensive to provide if the BCS had to pay for external provision of services. All committee meetings were held online via Zoom saving considerably on travelling costs and carbon emissions. Our main expenditure was the production of The Clematis, our annual journal. The society’s funds remained similar at £25,500. The committee continues to monitor costs. The BCS maintains its records as required by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
BCS accounts financial year 1st January - 31st December 2022
31/12/2022: £25,500
Decrease in funds in year 2022 £21
Note 1: Gift Aid receipt in 2022 covers 2 financial years
Note 2: Shows, Wisley June 2022 surplus of £68
C. ‘Étoile Violette’ and friends
C. ‘Jenny’ and ‘Skyfall’ Clematis in the garden of Grafton Cottage, the home of Margaret and Peter Hargreaves
Membership Report 2023
Ken Black, Membership Administrator
*Please note that Honorary Memberships are no longer awarded by the Society.
During the year so far, we have welcomed the following new members: Giles Reed, Will Jeffrey, Pauline Mitchell, Alison Warwick, Val Taylor.
It is noticeable that this year we have had fewer members than usual joining us, despite holding a joint day with the British Iris Society at RHS at Wisley in April to show how wonderful clematis are. If you have any ideas as to how we can boost our membership, the members of the Committee would be delighted to hear from you. Similarly, if any of you would like to consider filling the vacant post of Membership Secretary, and to join them on the Committee, the Chair would be happy to discuss the role with you. In the meanwhile, I am happy to continue to run the membership data base and to respond to members queries. Please note that I am not a member of the Committee.
Have a good Christmas everyone and here is Clematis ‘Partygate’ to brighten up the day.
Report from the Midland Group
Laurie Jones
We started the year with an indoor meeting in April at St Matthias and St George Church Hall, Astwood Bank. The meeting was well attended with over twenty members. Members brought spare plants for a plant exchange, and they also had the opportunity to purchase plants. Bernard’s videos from times past were displayed along with photos from our 2022 garden visits. The membership was enthusiastic that group garden visits should continue, and possible future visits were discussed.
Our group meeting in May was at Laurie and Pauline’s garden in Astwood Bank and included Astwood Bank Open Gardens comprising over twenty beautiful gardens including a Best of British flower show in the Church, a miniature steam train, children’s bear hunt, plant sales etc.
In Laurie and Pauline’s garden C. ‘Mayleen’, C. montana var. rubens and C. ‘Warwickshire Rose’ had commenced flowering and potted clematis on the patio, C. ‘Meghan’ and in the greenhouse Jersey Cream seedlings were blooming.
C. ‘Omoshiro’
Laurie and Pauline’s garden with C. ‘Mayleen’
Jersey Cream seedlings
We visited Warndon Court in June, an ancient rural parish and conservation area in Worcestershire with a farmhouse, surrounding gardens and church. Warndon Court garden has a lovely potager, knott garden, topiaries of yew trees and planted areas around the house, with roses and clematis growing on pergolas and C. ‘Fireworks’ and C. ‘Étoile Violette’ in the borders to enjoy. A display of vintage cars including several Morgans and paintings by the owner were also on display. We sat together and had tea and cake from the farmhouse, then explored St Nicholas Church.
Warndon Court garden
Enjoying tea and cakes
C. ‘Étoile Violette’
Roses and clematis
C. ‘Fireworks’
Some of the cars on display
July’s garden visit was to Whitlenge Gardens and nursery, Hartlebury. The garden is a collection of show gardens spread over 3 acres by a professional garden designer with many features including a twisted brick pergola, a moon gate, a turf labyrinth and a four turreted castle folly. We strolled through a metal hooped pergola into a garden of thyme and then through a fascinating log arch portal into the fairy kingdom and saw the Hobbit hole and stone folly. Refreshments were taken in the tea-room and plants viewed and purchased in the nursery.
In September we visited John’s Garden at Ashwood Nurseries, Kingswinford. John’s Garden is a wonderful 3 acre private garden created by the nursery owner, John Massey. Informal borders, island borders, woodland dells, a fern stumpery, and wildlife gardens set against a beautiful backdrop of the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal. Some of us made a day of it visiting Ashwood Nursery adjacent to John’s Garden and enjoyed lunch at the restaurant. The nursery stocks a wide range of speciality plants and clematis. It was the hottest day of the year curtailing the number of members attending. Those brave enough were treated to a feast of flowers including C. integrifolia and C. ‘Bill MacKenzie’. We also had the pleasure of meeting John Massey walking his dogs in the garden. He told us of the latest changes to the garden including the tufa alpine bed which had only recently been completed.
Whitlenge Gardensthe Moon Gate
The Folly
John’s Garden C. integrifolia
Our final meeting of the year was indoors in October at Fladbury Village Hall with Peter Skeggs-Gooch of Thorncroft Clematis Nursery talking about how to get the best from the clematis in your garden showing the benefits of companion planting. The attendance was good considering the distance that members travel to get to our meetings. Those attending really enjoyed meeting together. We are starting to plan our meetings and garden visits for next year.
The new tufa bed
John Massey with his dogs
Report from the Newsletter Editor
Glenn Rowbottom, Newsletter Editor, BCS
Once again, the Newsletters and “In Touch” which are issued throughout the year have been well received by the membership. I would like to thank the members who contributed wishing to share their growing experiences and useful tips and information with rest of membership.
I look forward to receiving your contributions throughout the year to keep these two important and informative documents going strong. The sharing of knowledge, growing experiences or seeking advice is the cornerstone of the Society. So, don’t be shy please and think about sharing your views and gardening experiences by producing a contribution for the Newsletter, however small, with pictures if possible. Best wishes for 2024 and onwards. Glenn
C. ‘Guernsey Cream’
BCS AGM and National Meeting, 2024
Saturday 27th April 2024 10.30 – 3.30pm (times to be confirmed)
Venue: Fladbury Village Hall, off the A 40, near Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 2QB
AGM: 11.30am approx.
Clematis in our gardens: A photographic tour showing our favourite clematis, in our gardens and other places. Please send your photos in advance of the meeting to: Julian Noble
Free to members (donations welcome).
Plant table, raffle. Hot drinks provided. Bring your own lunch
Clematis and Iris weekend
25th and 26th May 2024
Venue: RHS Wisley, Surrey, in the Hilltop Centre for Gardening Science.
(a joint event with the British Iris Society. The Iris Society will be staging their Early Summer Show over the weekend.)
International Clematis Society Report, 2023
Ken Woolfenden, Editor and Webperson, International Clematis Society, September 2023
Meetings
After two postponements, our Danish meeting was finally held in 2022. However, uncertainty as to when it would go ahead had meant that the Society could not investigate and organize a meeting for 2023.
I am pleased to say that planning for a meeting in 2024 is now well underway. 2024 is very significant for all of us as it is the 40th anniversary of the founding of the International Clematis Society. To celebrate this important event, our meeting will be in June 2024 in France, specifically in the Loire area. This will be the first time that the Society has held a meeting in France. Over the past couple of decades or so, interest in gardens and flowers in France has blossomed! There are now a number of private and public gardens one can visit, as well as the Loire Chateaux and lovely “fleurie” towns and villages. And being in France, I’m sure we’ll enjoy excellent food and drink.
One of our French members is Javoy Plantes, a specialist clematis nursery situated in Orléans. Started by Nicole and Pierre Javoy in 1984, it is now run by their children MarieLaue and Benoit Javoy. Today the nursery is a leading producer of Clematis in France. 2024 is also their 40th anniversary, so this meeting will celebrate two anniversaries.
Webinars
Over the last twelve months, the I.Cl.S. has held 4 online webinars, including a Constitutional General Meeting and one webinar open to the public which had an audience of 110.
Seed Exchange
The Seed Exchange is under new “management” and has finally managed to successfully negotiate the current international customs regulations, notably those that have been affected by major administration changes in the last few years due to stricter rules to avoid transferring pests and diseases.
Clematis on the Web
Many of you will, I’m sure, know, use and hopefully love “Clematis on the Web”, the amazing clematis database created and, until recently, maintained by Richard Green and Ian Lang. By mutual agreement the International Clematis Society has taken over responsibility for this service, both the provision of it and maintenance /updating. This has involved moving the complete service to a different environment. It is also envisaged that the service will need to be moved to a more up-to-date software platform. Whilst there have been some teething troubles, the Society is very keen to continue this service for all users, old and new.
The Clematis, the Journal of the BCS:
Julian Noble, Editor
This is the second edition of the Journal that I have edited. Each one is a collaborative effort starting with the authors; very many thanks to all of them. In the main, the photographs for each article are taken by the author. However, for this issue I want to record special thanks to Ken Woolfenden, Everett Leeds, and Ken Black for the photographs to illustrate several articles. Also thanks again to Everett for more of his cartoons.
We feature the clematis growing in the gardens of several members. I have used one of the photographs sent in by Michael Warren on the front cover and 2 on the inside of the back cover. I dipped into past issues for 3 articles. Everett Leeds’ article about the nurseryman Charles Noble takes us back to a past era of the horticultural trade. Ken Black suggested we reprint 2 of the technical articles written by Dr John Howells, author and past chair of the BCS. Both are about clematis wilt. When you read John Howells analysis of the research into wilt in Large Flowering Clematis it may make you wonder why we continue to grow them; but we do, mostly with great showy success. Many of you will have had them flowering this summer.
I have undertaken the editing of this issue, and accept full responsibility for any errors, hopefully any are only minor ones. Thanks for the assistance of Ken Back and Alison Booth, mainly at the proof-reading stages. Throughout this issue I have endeavoured to use the officially recognised names for clematis as shown in The International Clematis Register and Checklist that is maintained by the RHS.
We are grateful to the nurseries that advertise in the Journal whose support assists with the cost of the publication. Finally, I have worked with The Graphic Design House team and Bishops Printers in Portsmouth to bring you another well-designed and printed Journal.
I hope you enjoy this year’s Journal.
C. ‘Warwickshire Rose’
Keith Treadaway
1944 – 2023
Keith Treadaway died in April 2023. Over the years he contributed to our Journal with some quite technical articles including ones about viornas. He was generous with his knowledge of growing clematis.
On page 112 Richard Hodson records his appreciation of Keith, which has culminated in him registering a new variety of viticella in Keith’s memory. C. ‘Keith Treadaway’ was registered in September 2023.
Bethan Charles is another member of the BCS who was influenced by Keith. Here is her appreciation of Keith Treadaway:
Back in the 1990s, I became interested in clematis and visited the National Viticella Collection at Burford House and the attached nursery, Treasures of Tenbury, several times. I also joined the British Clematis Society. It was either at a British Clematis Society meeting at Burford House or when Keith and his wife, Jan, opened their garden under the National Garden Scheme, twenty-five miles away, that I first met him. I saw him a few times after this. Keith grew many viticellas but he had an additional passion for the small flowered viorna group, an interest that I could not understand at that time but have more lately come to appreciate.
In 2017, after I had retired, I joined Carmarthen Garden Club and became its programme organiser. I organised a visit to Keith’s garden in 2019, where we enjoyed a sunny afternoon of chat, tea and cake, although I can’t remember if he had made the cakes
C.’Keith Treadaway’
himself. I know that he liked to bake. That winter, I arranged for him to speak to the Club about clematis. I photographed the clematis in flower in his garden and posted them in my Facebook Group, ‘Crazy about Clematis’. As a result, I received a ‘Friend Request’ from a member living in Chicago, Mike Miller, who, in the mid-2000s, had received a selection of viorna seeds from Keith, along with a lot of pictorial information on disks. I believe they had both been members of an online group called ‘Garden Buddies’. Considering that these were native mid-American species, it seemed to me like sending coals to Newcastle but according to Mike, Keith’s selections were particularly good examples, derived from the earlier work of the breeder, Barry Fretwell.
I believe that they encouraged Mike into thinking about starting his own breeding programme and, by now, he has created some stunning and unusual tulip and trumpet shaped cultivars, by crossing viorna species with large flowered hybrids. Mike has, in turn, sent me viorna seed, which I am currently growing and assessing for the breeding that I have taken up in the last couple of years. It is quite amusing that these seeds have gone in a circle almost half-way around the world and now back to someone who lived close to and knew the original grower. Learning from Mike and discussing ideas with him about breeding has been truly exciting and I have Keith to thank for this. Keith was always very enthusiastic and eager to pass on his knowledge and it is a shame that I can no longer learn from him. His daughters, Rachel and Helen have very kindly given me all of Keith’s clematis books, so I am still benefitting from his passion.”
Bethan’s appreciation of Keith first appeared in Clematis International 2023, the Journal of the I.Cl.S. She has slightly rewritten the piece to appear in our Journal.
One of Bethan’s seedlings
C.‘Keith Treadaway’
Clematis in our Gardens
Clematis for year-round Colour in your Garden
Ken Black
Clematis are a superb addition to a cottage garden because they extend the amount and range of colour throughout the year and provide height in borders by being grown on obelisks and through shrubs, trees, and roses.
Many people think of clematis as those large dazzling flowers that appear in June and possibly have a reputation for being difficult to grow. Garden centres stock many of these summer varieties when they are in flower but not everyone knows that there are also clematis for other times of the year.
Clematis belong to the Ranunculaceae (Buttercup) family and there are over 300 different species growing in the wild. Most come from the Northern Hemisphere, grow in various conditions and flower at different times of the year. They have been classified by botanists into family groups which reflect their differing characteristics and growing habits. By seeking out plants from more than one group it is possible to have clematis flowering at different times of year in your garden.
My gardening year starts in November when the first of the winter flowering clematis come into bloom. Most belong to a group called cirrhosa which produce white or creamy flowers, some with speckles. Named varieties include ‘Lansdowne Gem’, ‘Wisley Cream’, ‘Freckles’ and ‘Jingle Bells’. None of these clematis require pruning and, depending on the variety and what part of the UK you live, will begin flowering in the darkening months and continue until February. Quite a bonus for the winter garden.
C. ‘Jingle Bells’
March is the month when our spring bulbs really take off, creating a wonderful array of low growing colour. This is also the month when the atragene group of clematis burst into life with their blue, white, purple, pink or red hanging bells, some of which appear to be double flowers. They can grow to a height of 3 metres so are ideal for growing on fences and obelisks where their colour will complement the traditional spring pallet. In my view, varieties such as ‘Blue Dancer’, ‘Pamela Jackman’, ‘Willy’, ‘Broughton Bride’ and ‘Markham’s Pink’ are an essential part of the spring garden and are easy to grow. They require good drainage, must not be planted deeply, and require no pruning.
Next come the montanas with their hundreds of small flowers in May, some of them perfumed. My favourites are ‘Broughton Star’, ‘Elizabeth’, ‘Mayleen’, ‘Marjorie’, ‘Warwickshire Rose’, and ‘Grandiflora’. Montanas have a reputation for growing in excess of 7 metres in height or length depending in the structure they are placed against. It is true that some are very vigorous but there are now many compact ones that are suited to a small garden. However, they all require good drainage, must not be planted deeply, and require no pruning.
As summer starts to beckon the early large flowered hybrids come into their own and are followed by the late large flowered hybrids, which have slightly smaller flowers but can often be even more floriferous. I grow many from these two groups in pots because I can place them on display for best effect but move them after they have flowered. The list of suitable varieties is almost endless but amongst the more well-known ones are ‘Nelly Moser’, ‘Niobe’, ‘Hagley Hybrid’, ‘Tie Dye’ and ‘Jackmanii Superba’. These
C. ‘Blue Dancer’
C. ‘Mayleen’
C. ‘Marjorie’
hybrids can be planted 6 to 8 inches below the surface to ensure that some nodes are below ground level in case of damage to top growth, in which case these nodes have the potential to re-shoot. All large flowered hybrids are pruned in spring. There are clematis from several other groups which begin to flower in summer with some continuing into autumn. Again, by choosing varieties whose flowering periods overlap it is possible to extend height and colour which compliment herbaceous borders with subtle tones and then fiery colours in late summer and early autumn. I grow many clematis through shrub roses so that as the roses come to the end of their flowering periods the clematis flowers take over.
One of the main groups of later flowering clematis is the viticella where most of the varieties are ‘bomb proof’ and require little attention apart for being hard pruned and fed in spring. Some have flowers which are small and hang down, like ‘Betty Corning’ and some are slightly larger, and star shaped, like ‘Étoile Violette’.
Another valuable clematis group for this time of year is the texensis with its tulip shaped flowers. As the name suggests texensis is a native of Texas but prefers damp conditions rather than hot, dry sites, because it grows near streams. Varieties bred from this group included ‘Princes Diana’, which is probably the most well-known, but in my view ‘Princess Kate’ is just as good. If you want yellow in your garden, to blend with autumn colours, there are many varieties from the tangutica group which work well. ‘Bill MacKenzie’ is quite vigorous, but ‘Daihelios’ is more well behaved. Both often self-seed. (‘Daihelios’ used to be known as ‘Helios’)
C. ‘Niobe’
C. ‘Betty Corning’
C. ‘Étoile Violette’
Clematis serratifolia flowers from late August through to October and has an intense smell of lemon to match its colour which is wonderful on a warm evening. Clematis terniflora
‘Early Snow’ will flower from early Autumn into November and, as the name suggests, with its small white flowers, creates a hint of early snow in the garden. And so back to November, where our journey through the year began.
Although some of the clematis I have mentioned may not be easily found in local garden centres, if you would like to know more about how you can use clematis to enhance and extend the period of colour in your garden there is more information about planting and growing on my web site kenblackclematis.com. There is also a list of mail order nurseries in the UK where less well-known clematis can be purchased. This article first appeared in The Cottage Garden magazine, Winter 2022
C. ‘Princess Kate’
C. ‘Bill MacKenzie’
C. serratifolia
C. terniflora
Stunning group of clematis:
Ipswich, Suffolk
Michael Warren
Michael sent in several photos of clematis in his garden in Suffolk for our September Newsletter. They were such good images I felt they deserved a further showing in our Journal. One of them features on the front cover.
L to R: C. ‘Emilia Plater’ with C. ‘Étolie Rose’ lower down; C. ‘M Koster’ (sometimes labelled Margot Koster) with C. ‘Polish Spirit’ behind
C. ‘Huldine’
C. ‘Sizaia Ptitsa’
C. SEA BREEZE ‘Zo09063’ with C. ‘Södertälje’
C. ‘Emilia Plater’ and C. ‘Étoile Rose’
Sleaford, Lincolnshire
David Goodchild
My wife and I retired to Lincolnshire 16 years ago and started creating our rear garden which at the time was mostly lawn. The soil is loamy, with some sand over limestone. Hence the soil is slightly alkaline. I read somewhere that American species like a pH of 6.5-6.8. Perhaps either side of neutral works alright.
Going back 4 houses I got a loan of Christopher Lloyd’s first book “Clematis”. The clematis were all illustrated. Strangely, as it seems now, I picked out C. rehderiana and C. ‘Gravetye Beauty’. I bought these from Treasures of Tenbury when in the area in about 1980. I still grow specimens of these, the former from BCS seed. Over the years we have visited several clematis nurseries most, sadly, now closed. Holidaying in Devon we made several visits to Peveril Nursery and met Barry Fretwell, the great hybridist. I never acquired any of his “gems” from him. However, on one visit he came out into the car park
Our garden with C. ‘Alionushka’ in background
and showed me a flowerhead. I expressed my approval and he seemed quite pleased. Several years later at RHS Hyde Hall I saw the same flower now labelled C. ‘Peveril Profusion’. A great cultivar, nearly as good as C. ‘Princess Diana’ which is stunning. Coming back to the present. When we first moved into our house we put up 5 pergolas with climbing roses and clematis on the posts. Recently we removed the pergolas and replaced them with green plastic-coated canes. We put 4 green plastic-coated canes in place of the posts in a pyramid arrangement. I have bought a lot of clematis but have also raised a lot from BCS seed (thanks to Mike Brown and Paul Dunstan). The bought clematis tend to have been put on the canes while the seed-raised plants are dotted around the canes. Also they grow through other roses and shrubs. Nice when they pop up unexpectedly.
We have quite a nice dark pink/red texensis that I believe was grown from BCS seed. Quite a few years ago BCS texensis seed was listed that had been supplied from the US and fits this description. The plant has flowered for at least 6 years, gives more flowers each year and sets plenty of seed. I modestly call it ‘Tex Best’ (photo on page 36). Resulting seedlings are dotted around the garden. I have tried growing a lot of the American species from BCS seed resulting in seedlings in the garden.
I am always confused when I see pictures in books etc. which are said to be the same species, but the flowers look completely different. I appreciate that probably the botanical features are the same. Of the type 2 clematis I have lost quite a few but C. ‘Miss Bateman’ and C. ‘H. F. Young’ have kept going for a few years. We were at RHS Wisley one day when Raymond Evison was
C. ‘Peveril Profusion’
C. ‘Princess Diana’
A seedling from BCS seed, flowers profusely
C. pitcheri seedling from BCS seed
introducing C. ‘Rebecca’, a near red. At the time I asked him about introducing some of smaller flowered hybrids but he said they would not be commercially viable. I have tried several Rebeccas but no luck. C. ‘Nubia’ from the same stable seems better but not as red.
As regards plants we like. No surprises here. All the viticellas. Of the herbaceous, C. ‘Alionushka’, C. ‘Hendersonii’, and C. ‘Rooguchi’. All the older Texensis cultivars. Then C. ‘Princess Diana’, C. ‘Peveril Profusion’ and some with less texensis in their genes C. ‘Odoriba’, C. ‘Pagoda’ and C. ‘Radiance’ (a very nice variety raised by John Treasure). Also viornas C. ‘Sonnette’ and C. ‘Liviana’. I read in an American book that crispa is the easiest of the Americans. I have had some problems with this but will keep on trying. I think C. crispa ‘Niccy’ has a lovely flower and is still growing well in our garden.
Of the roses we grow all the David Austin roses are good, our favourite is the THE GENEROUS GARDENER® with lovely early bronze foliage. Also the Kordes roses including Iceberg, Dortmund and Leverkusen. Another good doer is Rosa ‘Souvenir du Doctor Jamain’, an old climbing rose with a super scent, available from David Austin and Peter Beale.
To digress even further, if you like narcissi buy a species Narcissus cyclamineus. This grows about 4inches (10cm) high with a twee flower and it sets seed that is true so save seed. We love delphiniums, the elatum hybrids not the rubbish in garden centres. Again they are easy to grow but not true from fresh seed.
Finally, our favourite clematis: C. ‘Princess Diana’ or maybe C. ‘Huldine’.
‘Tex Best’ from US seed
C. texensis ‘Maxima’
C. ‘Rooguchi’
C. crispa ‘Niccy’
Randers, Denmark
Jette and Lars Jensen
ClematisBageren, Jette and Lars Jensen’s garden in Randers in Denmark, is a treasure chest of wonderful clematis blooms. They have been posting images on several clematis groups on Facebook including the BCS’s own group. Here are some from their collection including several doubles, some integrifolias, some large flowered varieties and finally several small flowered viorna-types. The photographs are spread over the next 4 pages
C. PATRICIA ANN FRETWELL ‘Parfar’
ClematisBageren
C. AVANT-GARDE ‘Evipo033’
C. ‘Thyrislund’
C. ‘Lady Kyoko’
C. ‘Lemon Dream’
C. ‘Jan III Sobieski’
C. PRINCESS KATE ‘Zoprika’
C. PRINCE WILLIAM ‘Zo08171’
C. ‘Hanajima’
C. ‘Hanajima’ single stem
ClematisBageren
C. LUCKY CHARM ‘Zo09067’
C. ‘Margaret Hunt’
C. ‘Piilu’
C. ‘Nino’s Choice’
C. SAMARITAN JO ‘Evipo075’
C. TAE ‘Toltae’
C. coactalis
C. ‘Crispa Angel’
C. ‘Doctor Mary’
C. crispa ‘Silly’ C. ‘Fiona Woolfenden’
C. fusca
C. glaucophylla
C. ochroleuca
From small beginnings to this
Lizzie Gibbison
We moved into our new home in Cranleigh, Surrey, in 2021, leaving a bungalow and 2 acres to be looked after by the new people. The garden was to be our main project. The task was how to transform a very overgrown patch, with a very large log cabin that would have looked better in the Canadian Rockies, a tin shed and an enormous patio.
The whole garden was ripped up. All the plants, apart from two, were munched up. The log cabin was sold to the men of Billingshurst who wanted a ‘man shed’. The tin shed went down to the tip. Now came the task of reducing the patio. The slabs were taken up only to find inches of reinforced concrete. What a bummer. It took 4 days, and we removed 40 tonnes, by hand, in wheelbarrows. Result - I have muscles in places you would not believe. Then came the rain so mud was everywhere – ugh! Undeterred, levels were sorted then, with the help of our daughter and son in law’s business, their two lads arrived to build the wall and lay the patio. Fantastic. Now we could start on the garden. My Dave put in pathways with wooden edges then we filled the paths with bark and dug over the rest, putting in soil where needed. All my ‘hardware’ went in next, the statues and pots and my obelisks. Then I could start planting – yippee. We started planting in April last year,
Before the work starts
2022. All the plants that had been sitting in pots for months went in first, followed by a little spending spree for more plants - lovely. Lots of plants were given to me by friends which was wonderful. I look at them and they remind me that I have such lovely friends. I mulched everywhere with very old horse manure, so in a few months the plants really took off even in the dry weather, although I did water a lot. We laid a small lawn on the very heavy clay. It is doing ok but the new dog doesn’t help it.
Now we are in 2023 the whole garden has taken off. I have delphiniums up to the top of an 8ft fence, no kidding, and my lilies are as tall as me at 5ft nothing. The clematis have flowered their socks off. So, I am a really, really happy bunny. That’s the story of my new garden, so far. What is your garden like?
Pegs in ready for the walls
Plant up
The lawn is looking good
Lizzie and Dave’s garden, Cranleigh
One of my statues Obelisk with herbaceous clematis in front
Another statue with a fine Michaelmas daisy
Our lovely dog, Ash
The lilies
Lizzie and Dave’s garden, Cranleigh
C. PERNILLE ‘Zo09113’
C. x diversifolia ‘Hendryetta’
C. ‘Tie Dye’
C. heracleifolia ‘Roundway Blue Bird’
Herbaceous – my Second Love
Everett Leeds
Well, I had to say that because my first is looking over my shoulder! It’s our 62nd anniversary this month as I write this, hiding from the heatwave outside in the low 30s centigrade-strangely though for our 50th it was in the low 80s F, so nothing new really.
Anyway, back to the subject in hand! When I started being into clematis in the mid-seventies, it was the large diameter climbers that grabbed me and infected me with the clematis virus. However, as time went on the interest went down a cog to the small flowered, late varieties, then into the Viornae and now to the herbaceous shrub section. I will not say ‘final group’ but it’s just as well we don’t know how life will turn out! Possibly that group is attractive because one does not have to stretch upwards to deal with tall growing plants anymore.
We moved into a ground floor flat in Reigate in 2008, forsaking a gorgeous 17th century cottage in a third of an acre plot on the A25 at Buckland, Surrey. A shrewd move really with advancing years and being able to do it whilst possessed of all your faculties. (There are many ‘Bucklands’ in England and there are two possible meanings: land held by ‘book’ or ‘charter’ as opposed to land held by service known as Folk land or possibly a reference to Beech trees (boc…)
Having swerved off the real topic once again, my apologies. We and the nine other flat owners managed to buy our freehold and form our own limited company. I, unofficially, took over the role of ‘gardener’ and out came all the usual green shrubs found in parks and in went a bit of colour.
The front garden
C. heracleifolia ‘Cassandra’
C. heracleifolia ‘Cassandra’ fitted the bill nicely together with other genus and over the years they have expanded in width and height to about 1.25 metre. The scent is gorgeous too. Being loved by pollinators, they make great quantities of seed that I harvest and sell when I do talks to garden clubs.
Although not possessed of a greenhouse, I take double-noded cuttings when I prune them in November-December, put them in a deep container with Perlite, and leave outside by the building wall and pot them up in May-June. These I sell at talks. ‘Oh, I didn’t know there are clematis like that’ is the phrase most often heard.
I also grow C. heracleifolia ‘China Purple’, a selected seedling following a Dutch plant expedition in China in 1980, that grows to about 75cm and is suitable for growing near the front of a border path.
C. heracleifolia ‘China Surprise’ came via Mike Brown, that prodigious and generous clematis grower. Again, more of a controlled height of about 75cms and a quiet temperament, ideal near the front of a border.
Another wonderful colour-break in this world of clematis, again in my case another gift from Mike Brown, is C. heracleifolia ‘Summer Snowfall’. This is a production of Ruud van der Werf of The Netherlands and takes us into the realms of a white heracleifolia for the first time. At around 75cms this is another one for the front or middle of a border. The plant Mike gave to me was grown from seed and has come true to colour of its parent. I shall definitely be collecting and sowing from my plant.
A similar plant of the same genus is C. stans, a native of Japan, that, depending on what plant you have, can be mauvish-
C. heracleifolia ‘Cassandra’ closeup
C. heracleifolia ‘China Purple’
C. heracleifolia ‘China Surprise’
blue or white tinged lightly with blue (Christopher Lloyd referred to it as ‘spiteful white’!). It does have scent, but the amount can vary from plant to plant. Another one for the middle or front of a border that can reach 50-75cms and have really congested bunches of small tubular blooms.
Some time ago Martin Gibbison allowed me some space on his nursery at Ockley, Surrey, and he was given a variegated leaf form of C. stans. Propagation was not carried on for fears of reversion to normal type (something which happens frequently with most variegations). However, my little plant, reaching to 40cms, has kept its variegation although to date its seedlings have shown none.
This group of clematis deserve more publicity. Because there is little or none, Joe Public is unaware of them. I am always pleased when, at a talk, someone comes up to me saying they have one, but they are in the minority. They propagate easily, so why not pop one down in flower to your local nursery, they might be persuaded to stock it. The fact that they flower later in the season means that they are so useful for giving gardens some great colour and scent in the last days of summer and early Autumn.
C. stans
C. stans variegated form
C. heracleifolia ‘Summer Snowfall’
More Miscellaneous mumblings
Richard Munday
Beauty, as they say, lies in the eye of the beholder and the clematis I have been smitten with this year is Clematis MASA ‘Evipo 089’. I thought it was in the Florida Group and might be a bit tender but it came through the winter in the ground with no trouble at all growing away strongly. I was informed at the Chelsea Flower Show that it should be hardy to about minus 20°C. The flowers almost look as though they are made of silk at first and are a gorgeous deep reddy-purple which become lighter and mauve with age. They are a pleasing star shape and fairly abundant. The plant flowers for a long time.
Last summer, 2022, was difficult because of the drought and I could not keep up with the watering so some clematis died. Some plants near, but not under, a large Norwegian Maple (very similar to a sycamore) really struggled and almost died as the Norwegian Maple had sent roots up from below to the surface that hoover up every drop of water. I rescued 2 new-to-me unusual Estonian varieties, C. ‘Uno Kivistik’ and C. ‘Jaan’, and put them in another part of the garden where they are growing reasonably. I have tried putting lengths of 32mm black plastic pipe to the roots of some plants to ensure adequate water. However, I found one dead plant I dug up with a pipe that had clogged with earth which I had difficulty getting a steel rod through so, definitely, no water reached it. To
C. MASA ‘Evipo089’
be effective the pipe needs to go in at the time of planting, ideally into a bed of gravel below the roots. A local hardware shop sold cheap 4 litre plastic bowls, so I have tried putting these filled with grit or pebbles below the roots as a reservoir of water both with and without a pipe. It seems big enough to provide moisture but not big enough to impede drainage below the plant.
Conversely the clematis loved the wet April, July and August of 2023 and grew well. One plant I thought was dead, C. ‘Rüütel’, sprang back to life.
I have enjoyed growing my cheap supermarket plants both for the varieties themselves but also because you can experiment with different ways of growing. If they die you have lost very little money. The best plant has been C. ‘Voluceau’ and, after cutting it to 6 inches in the spring, it was one of the first to flower. C. ‘Danuta’, a nice clean pink, had a few good flowers. C. ‘Girénas’ had quite a few pleasing pink flowers but was only 10 inches high. To encourage it to grow I cut off the flowers and put them in a vase only to find lots more buds below the flowers. Do I have the perfect bonsai clematis? C. ‘Rouge Cardinal’ has grown phenomenally for a small plant and is now flowering.
One problem with supermarket plants is mislabelling. C. ‘Westerplatte’ was really C. ‘Comtesse de Bouchaud’ and C. ‘Ruby Glow’ was C.‘Hagley Hybrid’ but the flowers of the latter are not to be sniffed at. I had waited ages for the red flowers of C. ‘Kardynal Wyszyński ‘only for them to be white-clematis C. ‘Jan Paweł II’, I think. However, there are lots of blooms so maybe I should not feel too miffed.
C. MASA ‘Evipo089’
The sheer cussedness of clematis is well illustrated by 2 early large flowered hybrids (ELFHs) I planted next to each other in an identical manner. C. ‘Hania’ has developed in to a large bushy plant with a good display of flowers whereas C.‘Pat Coleman’ just died. However, in the 2021/22 Journal Ruth Gooch described her success with the latter. Really for cussedness read lack of scientific knowledge. For example, we do not know precisely why the ELFHs grow better in pots.
I bought a couple of old ELFH varieties this summer, C.‘Walter Pennell’ and C.‘William Kennett’. I was surprised to see them for sale in a garden centre so snapped them up. To play safe I put C. ‘Walter Pennell’ in a large pot and was rewarded with some single flowers which look identical to the picture of this hybrid in Barry Fretwell’s 1989 book on clematis. Hopefully, I might get some of the stunning double flowers next year as it is growing well.
What you really appreciate, as a clematis grower, are plants that do well with no attention. Among varieties which have done that for me this year are the purple C. ‘The Vagabond’, the white viticella C. ‘Maria Cornelia’ and the dark purple viticella C.‘Dark Eyes’.
I am also trying some of the varieties from Eastern Europe, the aforementioned Estonian ones, the old USSR (C.‘Tuchka’) and Ukraine (C.‘Negritianka’ and C. ‘Vostok’). Only a few flowers so far but great potential. Despite the trials and tribulations of growing them a good clematis display makes it all worthwhile.
C. ‘Walter Pennell’
C. ‘My Angel’ should come with a health warning
Val Le May Neville Parry
It is so vigorous and gets into every nook and cranny - and now it is has pushed the glass out of my potting shed, having crept in via the floor.
C. ‘My Angel’ is such a gorgeous flower and amazing seed heads - thousands glisten in the September and October sun. But, goodness, please take care where you plant it.
Smothering the potting shed
C. ‘My Angel’ Growing under the door
Section 3
Propagating, breeding and growing clematis
Charles Noble of Sunningdale
Everett Leeds
First published in The Clematis, Winter 2000
Charles Noble was born at Bromham, Bedfordshire, just west of Bedford, on 9th August 1817 (almost two years after the battle of Waterloo). His father, also Charles, was a gardener married to Ann Henman also from Bromham.
It would appear he followed in his father’s footsteps being a gardener until he went into partnership with John Standish in 1846 when he was 29. This venture lasted for 10 years. It was called the Sunningdale Nursery near Bagshott, Surrey and the boundary of the Surrey and Berkshire, which is a stream at this point, ran through the nursery grounds. At the height of its business it extended more or less for one mile along each side of the A30, the main road between Sunningdale and Bagshott, which was a busy route for horse drawn coaches, which of course was handy for trade.
Charles married Jane and they had a daughter, Minnie, who, it is said, wrote bad poetry. They lived at Thankerton House which lay between the Sunningdale Nursery and what is now the main A30 road.
C. ‘The President’
Charles Noble is described as a difficult man with an uncertain temper. Apparently quite often customers were the victims of his bullying ways and, being tall in stature, his overbearing nature must have been quite formidable. He did not always see eye to eye with Standish who was a mild-mannered individual and when Standish was asked why they had parted company he said “Two suns could not shine in the same horizon”. Both men had made their mark during their partnership and were well regarded by plant hunters and benefactors of the day. Besides their comprehensive catalogue they sold plants obtained by Robert Fortune on his China expedition between 1843 and 1846. These included Anemone hupehensis var. japonica, the Japanese anemone, Jasminium nudiflorum, the winter jasmine and Dicentra spectabilis, bleeding heart. In 1852 they published Practical Hints on Ornamental Plants and Planting priced at 5 shillings (25 pence), which gave information on new rhododendrons from Sikkim, China and America grown by them from seed given to them by Joseph D. Hooker (later Sir Joseph), son of Sir William Hooker, Director of Kew Gardens. As well as growing plants they also offered themselves as garden designers.
When Standish and Noble parted company they split the stock between them. Noble stayed at Sunningdale site and Standish acquired a new site at Ascot. After a while the two became friends once more.
Noble grew camellias, rhododendrons, Ghent azaleas and Bourbon roses. Among the shrubs he sold was Mahonia bealei (now called M. japonica), Spirea ‘Nobleana’, which was believed to be a chance seedling between S. callosa and S. douglasii and featured in Curtis’s Botanical Magazine in 1860. On several occasions he was obliged to sell stock quickly by auction because of demands on his land for road or railway building or when rented portions of land had to be given up. Within a few years of retirement (around 1898) there were several large auctions of his stock; one took 6 days to get through 3,600 lots! Unfortunately for horticultural historians Noble burnt all his correspondence, possibly including letters from many well-known plant hunters and collectors of that era. Finally, he disappeared into obscurity and his place and date of death are not known yet.
The Sunningdale Nursery site has remained in occupation and numerous owners since the days of Charles Noble. During the 1950s Graham Stewart Thomas worked there as a part-time manager with the then owner Jim Russell (full name M. James Philip Cuming Russell) and plants such as Pieris ‘Forest Flame’, Buddleja fallowiana ‘Lochinch’ and a pale yellow rhododendron called ‘Damaris Logan’ were put on the market. More recently, in 1968, it was bought by the Waterer Group and now trades as a Hillier Garden Centre.
Charles Noble is credited with introducing the following clematis cultivars mainly by crossing Clematis ‘Standishii’ with C. ‘Fortunei’ and various forms of C. patens.
C. ‘Miss Bateman’ (white); C. ‘Lady Londesborough’ (silver-grey); C. ‘Albert Victor’ (deep lavender) all of which received a ‘First Class Certificate’ in 1869. C. ‘Lord Londesborough’ (deep mauve with coppery tinted purplish-red bar) received a ‘First Class Certificate’ in 1870.
Also introduced before 1872 with the following clematis:
C. ‘Princess Mary’ (pale pink); C. ‘Lady Emma Talbot’ (white tinted with mauve on the margin); C. ‘Duke of Buccleuch’ (mauve); C. ‘Estelle Russell’ (white); C. ‘Lord Henry Lennox’ (mauve); C. ‘Lord Napier’ (deep mauve with paler central bar); C. ‘Mrs. Villiers Lister’ (white) and C. ‘Queen Guinevere’ (white with a creamy tinge). C. ‘Jackmanii Alba’ (semi-double white) was raised prior to 1877, but possibly after 1872, as it was not mentioned by Moore and Jackman in their book The Clematis as a Garden Flower (1872). This is only an assumption - there was much rivalry in the hybridising race, and it may have been deliberately left out!
C. ‘Proteus’ (double purply-pink) and C. ‘The President’ (rich purply-blue) were also raised around 1876. No one knows which ‘president’ Noble had in mind when he named his plant, but I believe it was more likely to be someone in the horticultural world, perhaps the RHS, rather than a political figure.
Noble’s legacy lives on today not only in the guise of some of those familiar clematis mentioned above but by the following, mentioned in The Garden’ dated 2nd July 1881, which reported on a display at the Regents Park Botanic Gardens on the 25th May of the same year with the words “Mr. Noble exhibited the greatest number of distinct and good new varieties: C. ‘William Ewart Gladstone’, now shortened to ‘W. E. Gladstone’ (lavender blue); C. ‘Lady Constance Kennedy’ (paper-white large flowers); C. ‘George Elliot’ (violet blue); C. ‘Pirate King´(purplish-blue); C. ‘May Queen’ (pale purplish rose); C. ‘Aurora Leigh’ (white tinged with pink); C. ‘Margaret Dunbar’ (blue with a purplish tinge); C. ‘Circe’ and C. ‘Undine’ (both double
C. ‘Miss Bateman’
C. ‘Lady Londesborough’
C. ‘The President’
blue); C. ‘Imogene’(white); C. ‘Countess Gleichen’ (blush); C. ‘Lord Gifford’ (pale reddish purple) and finally C. ‘Mrs Cholmondeley’ (blue purple).
The above colour descriptions of those of the author of the original article in The Garden (1881).
These lists are not exhaustive as I have not seen any catalogues of Noble’s nursery. It would seem he was motivated to hybridise clematis after his break-up with Standish as none predate that occasion as far as I know. Indeed, the explosion in clematis hybridisation seems to have taken place generally from the late 1850s onwards and it is good to note that when a good-looking plant came along no one was too proud not to offer it for sale. As an example, in a George Jackman & Son catalogue dated 1875, there are three of Noble’s introductions. Their nurseries were quite close to each other, less than half a day’s ride on horseback or carriage. It is an intriguing prospect to think of what dialogue, if any, they had on their favourite genus.
Acknowledgements
This article is a slightly edited version of the original by Everett Leeds published in The Clematis, (Winter issue 2000); thanks to Everett for his permission. In that article there was a photograph of Charles Noble that was published in The Gardener’s Chronicle, 1886. The RHS has not been to locate this in their current archive. The photographs of clematis have been added to this edited version of the article; thanks to Ken Woolfenden and Ken Black. With grateful thanks for permission to use material from Nurserymen to the World by Eleanor John Willson (1989).
References:
The Garden (Vol. XX July 2, 1881)
A descriptive Catalogue of Clematis, etc. George Jackman & Son, (March 1875).
The clematis as a Garden Flower, Moore and Jackman (1872)
C. ‘Mrs. Cholmodeley’
How far back do our clematis go?
Annette Stevens
Would you believe that a lot of our clematis date back to the 16th, 17th, 18th centuries. Are they still about and can we still purchase them? Here are just a few I have selected.
C. intergrifolia: introduced in 1573 from Southern Europe. Indigo flowers, scented, this herbaceous clematis has given rise to many cultivars.
C. flammula: introduced in 1590 from southern Europe. A hardy vigorous deciduous climber with small white flower in clusters, scented.
C. cirrhosa: evergreen dating back to 1596 from southern Europe also North Africa, small nodding creamy-green flowers, winter flowering and dormant in summer. Several very fine varieties such as; C. cirrhosa var. pupurascens ‘Freckles’
C. ‘Lasurstern’
C. intergrifolia
C. cirrhosa
C. flammula]
C. cirrhosa var. pupurascens ‘Freckles’
Clematis ‘Mary Rose’: this cultivar is very old, known as Clematis peregina purpurea flora in 1623, or Double Virgins Bower when described in 1629. It is a member of the viticella group. Reintroduced and renamed in 1981 by Barry Fretwell, according to Wim Snoeijer the correct name is Clematis viticella ‘Flore Pleno’ (‘Mary Rose’ then becomes a synonym).
C. ‘Beauty of Worcester’: raised by Richard Smith & Co before1886. Large deep-blue fully double flowers, with later large single flowers on new growth in September. A hybrid of C. ‘Purpurea Elegans’ and C. ‘Countess of Lovelace’.
C. Sir Trevor Lawrence: bred by A. G. Jackman in 1890, it is a cross between C. ‘Star of India’ and C. texensis. It is one of the varieties that came to be known as Wokingensis Hybrids. Named after a former RHS President. C. ‘Sir Trevor Lawrence’ and C. ‘Duchess of Albany’ maybe the only two C. texensis hybrids bred by A. G. Jackman still in existence.
C. ‘Elsa Späth’: raised by L Späth in Berlin in 1891. Large lavender flowers.
C. ‘Lasurstern’: raised in 1905 by Goos & Koenemann in Germany, large midblue flowers.
C. ‘Hagley Hybrid’: raised by Percy Picton in 1945 and introduced by Jim Fisk in 1956 known in North America as PINK CHIFFON.
C. ‘John Warren’: Introduced in 1968 raised by Walter Pennell. Named after the principal of Lincoln College of Agriculture. As I said at the start, these are just a few of our historic clematis. There are still hundreds more that have been introduced over the years.
Have you got any in your garden?
Clematis ‘Mary Rose’
C. ‘Beauty of Worcester’
C. Sir Trevor Lawrence
C. ‘Elsa Späth’
C. ‘Lasurstern’
C. ‘Hagley Hybrid’
C. ‘John Warren’
Some of Jim Fisk’s introductions
Julian Noble
Earlier this year Peter Hargreaves sent me a copy of a catalogue from Fisk’s Clematis Nursery. On reading the introduction I realised it was dated 1967, the year that Jim Fisk launched his first introduction, C. ‘Alice Fisk’.
These are the words he wrote at the beginning of the catalogue:
“This year we have the great pleasure of introducing the lovely new variety illustrated on the front cover “Alice Fisk”. Raised from a cross between ‘Lasurstern’ and ‘Mrs. Cholmondeley’ this is our first introduction and is named after my mother who has always taken a keen interest in the nursery since it was founded in 1950. At a very active and lively 84 she still helps with weeding, watering and tying up the plants and needless to say is very thrilled to have a clematis named after her. She hopes that she will do well in your gardens.”
He continues: “Alice Fisk” flowers twice a year in May and June with very large ‘Wisteria blue’ flowers with crenulated edges, a green bar is prominent when first opens, but this fades as the flower develops. The stamens are dark and large making a striking contrast to the sepals. In late summer a second crop of blooms appear, not quite so large but perhaps a better colour. Our illustration on the cover was taken in September. No pruning is required as this variety belongs to the Patens group flowering on the old wood in the spring.”
C. ‘Alice Fisk’ is priced at 25 shillings (£1.25) in the 1967 catalogue, compared to most other varieties priced between 7/6 (33p) and 15s (75p).
C. ‘Alice Fisk’
Cover of catalogue featuring C. ‘Alice Fisk’
Jim Fisk bred and introduced over 50 varieties including other early large-flowering varieties. He named two after secretaries working in the nursery office.
C. ‘Gillian Blades’:
Introduced in 1975 receiving the RHS’s Award of Garden Merit in 1993. A cross with ‘Lasurstern’ as one of the parents and an unknown clematis. The large flowers are white with faint blue-mauve margins when young.
C. ‘Glady Pickard’:
Of unknown parentage registered in 1972 and introduced in1975. Large pale mauve flowers with a white bar or all white flowers with a faint bar, cream stamens and paleyellow anthers.
He bred a very different variety, the atragene C. macropetala ‘Wesselton’:
This has abundant larger than usual flowers, for an atragene, double nodding flowers, mid-blue, flowering April – June. The date of introduction is uncertain but sometime before 1996. Jim used the 17th century spelling of Westleton, the village near Saxmundham in Suffolk where he lived and had his nursery.
The nursery closed in 1999. Jim Fisk died in 2004 aged 92.
Thanks to Ken Woolfenden for the photographs
C. ‘Gillian Blades’
C. macropetala ‘Wesselton’
C. ‘Gladys Pickard’
C. ‘Prosperity’ and its offspring
Val le May Neville Parry
This has been a crazy year for us gardeners – blooming has either been early or late, flowered for only a fraction of the usual time, clematis blown off their supports or died in the late frost and bitter winds just as they were coming into flower. Some plants benefitted from the wet winter months which possibly enabled them to survive the drought throughout May and June. Others, newly planted or in poorly drained soil, failed to survive. Several of the largest montana plants were blown completely off their tree or telegraph pole and rope supports. Amazingly some have recovered, sending out masses of new shoots from lower down. This year’s clematis displays in all groups has been disappointingly short, but, given kinder conditions this coming winter and spring 2024, they could benefit from having been cut back so severely.
‘Prosperity’ is a wonderful montana and has withstood all that the weather has thrown at it. Having said that, it’s a blighter to propagate. It also makes an amazing seed parent, to date producing several stunning dwarf or compact new Montana plants.
The first ‘Prosperity’ plant was donated to the Collection by the ever generous Mike Brown in 2006. Mike saw it as a sport of ‘Continuity’ in Mrs Caroline Todhunter’s magnificent garden. Having failed to propagate it himself, he eventually gave it to Wim Snoeijer. Wim succeeded. Mike’s donated plant was dug up and destroyed by a badger. Replaced with a cultivar purchased from Thorncroft Clematis Nursery in 2009, the replacement has thrived and flourished, providing a spectacular late montana display despite being planted in poor stony soil against a south facing fence at the top of the bank behind the compost heap.
C. ‘Properity’ wide open flowers
Planted in a far from ideal position, poor soil, planting hole with emerging stems exposed to full sun, west, south-west, south, south-east and east winds, it has been necessary to water with three gallons of rain water every month throughout the spring and summer months before top dressing with a thick layer of my own By The Way compost and wellrotted two year old oak and apple leaf mould in early spring, mid-summer and again in late autumn. This treatment has protected and fed the root system and enabled the plant to grow and flower brilliantly for the last fourteen years.
Clematis on the Web describes ‘Prosperity’ as 1.5-2 metres tall. It also says it’s fragrant. My plant has six stems from the crown, each measuring 6m long, three along a thick rope to the west and three trained to the east, providing a blanket of flowers. I can detect no fragrance. It gives a remarkable 12m display along the fence throughout May into June and sends out further sprays of large (for a montana), wide open, forward facing, crinkly edged, pure white flowers throughout summer and deep into autumn. It’s one of the last in the group to bloom usually flowering for four to six weeks. Having chrysocoma in its genes, it has attractive deep green-bronze, shiny embryonic leaves emerging in early April. The entire 12 metre stretch usually sports leaves and buds by the end of April, by which time I have many garden visitors to see the Collection. I make a point of showing guests the aerobic compost heaps and visitors invariably gasp on spotting the massive plant at the top of the bank, high above the wall retaining the compost. It’s quite a show-stopper.
C. ‘Prosperity’ stems emerging from the stony soil
Early leaves and buds
C. ‘Prosperity’
The parent plant is notoriously difficult to propagate so, as with ‘The Jewell’, which also has chrysocoma in its parentage, Julian Noble and I sowed seeds. Unfortunately, I gave away the earliest two seedlings to emerge but kept four – two from Julian and two of mine. I hope the unknown recipients have enjoyed their plants. One retained seedling was a dwarf measuring a mere 30cm which sent out numerous stems. This was named in 2019 ‘Brian Collingwood’. Brian was editor of the BCS Journal for ten years. The seedling first flowered in 2016. Sadly, it failed to produce viable seedheads and died in 2021. Equally sadly, all four rooted cuttings of ‘Brian Collingwood’ died in 2020 so it has ceased to exist. I have subsequently found most dwarf ‘Prosperity’ montana seedlings with the exception of ‘Rhiannon’ to be relatively short lived – about five to ten years. It would seem wise, therefore, to take cuttings once dwarf seedlings are one to two years old.
A second ‘Prosperity’ seedling was named ‘Maureen’ and still survives. It is named for the friend who drove me to Bournemouth Hospital on New Years’ Eve 2009, the night my Chris died. This is another special plant. Not so dwarf as ‘Brian Collingwood’, it is compact at 5-6ft tall (1.5 – 1.8m) and has flowered well in my poor soil since 2014 in a site exposed to fierce winds from all directions. The flowers and leaves are smaller than ‘Prosperity’ but the flowers have the same frilly margins and wide open flowers. ‘Maureen’ was propagated by Marcus Dancer Plants and sold until Marcus ceased trading in 2021. ‘Maureen’ was registered in June 2018.
‘Rhiannon’ is a dwarf ‘Prosperity’ seedling. She is named for a young lady who used to visit with her younger sister and perform
C. ‘Brian Collingwood’
C. ‘Maureen’ creamy-white flowers opening
Maureen with her named seedling
C. ‘Rhiannon’
acrobatics on my wet sloping lawn – in their wellington boots. Ten years later Rhiannon has just finished her degree at Exeter University. This seedling has relatively large flowers for such a compact plant, flowers have a hint of cream and slight perfume – I wish I knew the pollen parent. It sits in a long pot on a stand on my bedroom patio and is much admired by visitors. The stems hang down which suits this plant, displaying the flowers perfectly. I plan to register it soon.
One of the original seeds sown produced a plant with flowers virtually identical in size, colour, shape and form to the parent plant. The leaves are significantly different in form and colour. A local gardening friend, Jo, had been waiting to name a seedling for some years. It’s possibly going to be ‘CoJo’. Planted on the north wall of my home it has been slow to mature and, despite having such pretty flowers, they are sparsely spaced. It is also less vigorous than I would like. I hope to transplant it to a warmer, more fertile site this autumn. Jo doesn’t want to give up on it yet.
A last ‘Prosperity’ seedling was named in 2019 for the 50th wedding anniversary of my brother, Roger, and sister-in-law, Lyn. Their daughter, Tamsin, is my God-daughter as well as my niece. They suggested the name ‘TamLyn’. ‘TamLyn’ is a self-set seed, clearly with chrysocoma in the parentage, hence being included in this article. It is growing well in the ground, about five metres south of ‘Prosperity’. It is unique, having more green than pink on both front and back of both buds and open flowers. ‘TamLyn’ 2018001 was registered in 2022 and full details appear in the International Clematis Registrar, Sarah Holme’s report on page 115.
Some of the Montana Group seedlings are proving to be exceptional. I am happy to send named seed or a mix of Montana Group seed to BCS members on request. Some cultivars already have good seed heads forming. Send me an e-mail if you would like to try growing from seed. This year many of the group are currently repeat flowering, some with just the odd flower but others, including the seedling ‘Sophie Camilla’ which first flowered in October 2022, have dozens of new flowers, having already flowered well in May and June. Email contact: val@lmnp.co.uk
As part of our developing Dispersed National Collection of Monatas please send details of any monata cultivars you have growing in your garden, if you wish your details to be included. Send this information to Julian Noble (contact details on page 13.)
C. ‘Rhiannon’ seed heads C. ‘CoJo’ flowers with 4, 5 and 6 sepals C. ‘TamLyn’ registered in 2022
Breeding clematis – Potential, Goals, Practical Considerations and Processes
Bethan Charles
My challenge was how I would explain my hobby of breeding clematis to fellow Garden Club members?
What was I trying to achieve?
What qualities was I looking out for in both parents and offspring? What were the practical considerations to take into account? What processes would give me the greatest degree of success?
Setting this down in writing and entering into a prolonged process of multiple edited versions, through discussion with another BCS member, Mike Miller in Chicago, helped enormously. His greater experience and knowledge proved invaluable. My presentation took the following path, which I hope will encourage others to try cross-pollination and growing from seed, or even help them to choose the best possible features in the varieties to buy. Some of the observations come only from Mike and the experiences of other breeders, as I have not been breeding for long enough to see all of them myself.
My interest is in the summer flowering hybrids and species, as depicted in John Howells’ Gardener’s Classification or in Christopher Grey-Wilson’s botanical classification:
Subgenus Flammula, Section Viticella (the European Viticella and the Asian Patentes, Languinosae and Floridae)
Subgenus Viorna (the North American species and the European Integrifolia).
Goals and potential cover the same qualities in parents and offspring but just combined in different ways. So, the first thing I am looking for is to breed a plant that will grow well in my west Wales climate, where spring and summer temperatures are often up to 10°C less than in the South of England and the Midlands, due to the direction of the three prevailing winds in the UK, and where we get a lot of rain, ranging from about 75mm per month between April and July up to 155mm in December.
I am looking to produce both vining and non-vining types. I find the non-vining very useful to lay over bare spaces where peonies or geraniums have been cut back after flowering. These are also amenable to a Chelsea Chop, to provide colour later in the season. A second goal is to produce good cut flowers.
Good structure is important, so I’m looking for a plant that branches from the ground with a lot of stems. This is a feature of viticellas: peduncles (main flower stalks) and pedicels (smaller, branching flower stalks) arising at each node and flowers low down. The
Optivisor magnifying headlamp
Cross-pollinating
way the flowers are held, hanging down, facing outward or facing upward needs to suit the height of the plant. It is important that it is free-flowering, another feature of viticellas, perhaps flowering continuously,a feature of integrifolias, repeat flowering or reblooming in the same season if cut back, a feature of Lanuginosae in the same season if cut back. I am looking for a plant that grows vigorously, is disease-resistant, hard and, preferably, adaptable to different climates and aspects. The Early Large Flowered clematis, other than the Evison varieties and C. ‘Sunset’, do not perform well in my climate and I no longer buy them, unless as cheap liners for experimentation.
Flowers have to be held clear of the leaves and of each other. An attractive flower form is a matter of personal preference. Most often, I am drawn to wider, rounded sepals or gappy flowers, which have texture of being ridged and crispate (frilly). The sepals have to continue to look good in rain, wind or hot sun and must not overly bleach out. The colour and size of the central boss (the female stigma in the centre and the male stamens surrounding it) has to complement the colour and size of the flower itself to pass my test and it helps if the stamens do not release their pollen too quickly, so that the central boss remains in good condition. Deteriorating dark stamens are not as obvious as paler yellow or other pale ones that go brown.
For the commercial market, the plant has to be distinct, uniform and stable, although I feel that these are woolly concepts. Even if it is similar in appearance to an already existing commercial variety, I believe that it can be a useful addition to the repertoire if it performs better, blooms at a different time, is more likely to rebloom in a season, or performs better in a challenging aspect. Commercially, it has to be easy to propagate.
Removing sepals with scissors
Pollinated flower in gauze bag
In terms of practical considerations, wide crosses between more distantly related varieties can bring unusual flower forms, colour patterns and vigour. If compatibility seems to be a problem in obtaining viable seed, I will try creating bridge plants. Sterility or partial sterility can be a problem in the F1 generation, although there is evidence from other genera that plants can become fertile when they are more mature. Also, it may be that placing the plant under stress will encourage seed production. Another possibility to bear in mind is that, according to the work of Beskaravaynaya in Ukraine, the disease resistance of the plant is determined by the seed parent, so that the direction of a particular twoway cross is important in this regard. Similarly, it seems that the seed parent has greater influence over the way the flower faces than the pollen parent and is something to bear in mind when deciding the direction of the cross.
Some varieties release their pollen very early on, even before opening, whereas others can take several days to release pollen after opening, so it is important to time the cross-pollination process to suit the particular varieties being used. This is to prevent self-pollination and to ensure the successful generation of seeds. I am more confident of having avoided self-pollination when using a variety that is slow to release its pollen as the seed parent. Back-crossing and crossing with relatives can be used to try to enhance particular attributes.
For the actual process of cross-pollination, I use an Optivisor magnifying headband and a pair of scissors from an old dissection kit to remove the sepals and stamens (see photos on previous page). I use gauze bags around the flowers to prevent insects from transferring pollen. I pollinate over several days at what I believe is the optimum time for that particular variety. I leave the gauze bags on to collect the seeds. I use different coloured tags in succession giving details of the cross, so that I always know which are the most recent, and I can also judge the date at which the pollination process was most successful. I use an oil-based black marker pen, which is likely to be more long-lasting than other markers. Sometimes, in order to obtain pollen, it is useful to cut flowers, taking them indoors and either placing them in a vase of water for slow gradual release of pollen or taking individual flowers on their stems but cutting off the sepals and putting them on a plate for faster complete release of pollen. Dark coloured released pollen is easier to see on a light background, while pale pollen shows up better on a dark background.
Once the fruit heads are ripe, I dry the achenes (fruits) for a week or two on the windowsill, to try to avoid fungal contamination, then I soak and peel the achenes, using a scalpel and needle tool from the dissection kit. Achenes can often be empty, perhaps due to parthenocarpy (production of seedless fruits), abortion of the embryo or predation by the likes of shield bugs. Then I put the seeds on a bed of damp sand in sealed plastic containers in a dark kitchen cupboard. This has mostly worked well for me, giving more seedlings. Viorna seeds germinate better in the higher temperature of the airing cupboard. Usually, the first seeds germinate in November/December, and when they have roots about 3cm long, I transplant them into 7cm or 9cm pots, containing a mixture of John Innes No. 3 compost, reduced peat multipurpose compost and perlite, to which I add a little mycorrhizal fungi powder. I intend trying some just in a fine multipurpose compost this year, but I do not like composts with a high proportion of coir. I put them into a lidded unheated propagator under a Viparspectra growlamp in a spare bedroom, where the radiator is off but the seeds benefit from the background warmth in the house. I have downloaded a PPFD (Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density) meter onto my phone to measure the strength of photosynthetic light. I increase the PPFD as the plants grow and also the time from around 10 hours in December to 13 hours in March. When they have grown to almost the top of the propagator, I pinch out the growing tip and start giving them a quarter strength Phostrogen fertiliser solution, which contains magnesium. When they grow too tall for the propagator, I take off the lid.
Drying the achenes
Achenes on damp sand
Sealed containers in cupboard
Germinating seed
Three propagators fit under the lamp, so that less developed seedlings can always be kept under a lid.
Any seeds that have not germinated by the beginning of February are put in the fridge for two months. This leads to a second batch of germinations from April onwards. These can be transferred immediately to natural light in an outbuilding, after transplanting. I repeat these hot/cold cycles a few times. Some studies suggest that variation in day/night temperature also encourages germination. I have found that these methods speed up the whole process by around two years, compared to sowing seeds in pots, where they are also more prone to disappearing entirely.
At the beginning of April, I switch off the lamp and take the plants first to an outbuilding, then to the equivalent of a cold frame until they look robust enough to be in the open. I have found that it helps to keep them in dappled shade in a tray that can, occasionally, be filled with water. Depending on their size, I may, at this stage, give them a little blood, fish and bone and or a few Miracle-Gro slow release rose and shrub granules. I am experimenting with polyhalite, a fertiliser that provides potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and a form of calcium that is reputed to have no impact on pH.
Viparspectra Growlamp
Pots and seed trays by window
Pots under Growlamp
Seedlings planted out on allotment
Seedlings flowering on Bethan’s allotment – a selection;
I let the roots fill the pot before potting on or planting out at my allotment. They survive and thrive better in a more stable environment in the ground rather than in a pot. I try to plant in batches of the same cross at the allotment, so that I can use an etched copper label for each batch. These labels can last for years.
Then the wait of a year or two begins before I will see flowers. I have found that sometimes in the first year, the flower pigment colour has not developed, so that the first time a plant flowers, they may be green or a grey colour but that the following year, the green will be pink; and the grey, a deep purple. Therefore, it is best not to give up on a plant too soon.
Dr John Howells 1918 – 2007
Dr John Howells is one of those people that I wish I had not only met but had got to know well. I have read many of his research papers and some of his books and, without doubt, he was a giant of the clematis world. He served in the second world war as a medical officer and went on to study neurology and psychiatry. He became Director of a research institute affiliated to Cambridge University, regarded himself as an internationalist, loved Italian opera and had over 40 years of experience in growing clematis. He was a past Chair of the British Clematis Society and a former Journal Editor. He wrote many articles, including ones for our Society and the International Clematis Society. There is a web site www.howellsonclematis.co.uk where some of his articles can be found.
We have reprinted 2 of the many articles that he wrote on clematis wilt, in slightly edited versions. Please go to his web site for further information about Dr John Howells and his contribution to growing clematis.
Ken Black
The Lesion of Stem Rot (clematis wilt)
Dr John Howells
First published in The Clematis, 1996 p 53
The term clematis ‘wilt’ has always been unsatisfactory as the stems of clematis, like those of other plants, can ‘wilt’ for a number of reasons, the commonest of which is lack of water. Additional causes of ‘wilt’ are physical damage to the stem, vine weevil damaging the roots, excess of fertilisers, lack of essential minerals, and root damage by ants and wood-lice.
Now that the pathology of the disorder is clear, and the lesion described, it is helpful to use for the lesion a particular term which gives a general description of the lesion. ‘Stem rot’ would seem to be appropriate.
Cause of ‘Stem Rot’
‘Stem Rot’ results from the action of fungi on a plant vulnerable to the action of those fungi. The first clue to the likely vulnerable parent of clematis hybrids came from the result of the first hybridisation by Anderson-Henry in Edinburgh in 1855. He crossed C. fortunei and C. lanuginosa to produce the hybrids C. ‘Henryi’ and C. ‘Lawsoniana’. Both hybrids are high wilters. Thus both C. fortunei and C. lanuginosa were suspects as the original host to vulnerability. Soon G Jackman crossed C. lanuginosa with C. viticella to produce the popular hybrid ‘Jackmanii’. C. viticella and C. lanuginosa, again, were suspects. ‘Jackmanii’ also wilts but to a lesser extent than C. ‘Henryi’ and C. ‘Lawsoniana’. But C. viticella is known not to wilt and it may be able to contribute a degree of protection against ‘wilt’ to its offspring. This left C. fortunei and C. lanuginosa as suspects. The plant responsible for wilt acted on a huge scale so in 20 years the clematis trade was
in disarray because of the massive incidence of ‘wilt’ as it was called. Clematis lanuginosa was employed on a huge scale in hybridising and thus it had to be the prime suspect. But it was necessary to test the hypothesis that it introduced vulnerability to ‘wilt’ by systemic investigation.
Studies in Holland listed the degree of susceptibility to ‘wilt’ in a number of popular clematis.1,2,3 With the help of prominent growers in the UK it was possible to make an upto-date list of susceptibility in popular clematis in the UK. The lists in Holland and UK were in general agreement and from the two lists it was possible to make a joint list. It was crucial to know what was the difference in the genetic background with 14 low wilting clematis. The result was dramatic and clear cut.4 All the high wilters on which there was information had C. lanuginosa as a direct or indirect parent. The vulnerability to ‘wilt’ therefore came from C. lanuginosa.
Another finding of the investigation was that most wilting occurs in the early Large Flowered clematis; in the UK list 100% of the high wilters came from the early group. The late Large Flowered group, the Jackmanii group, is much less affected.
The fungi causing ‘wilt’ have been identified as Aschochyta clematidina (transferred to genus Phoma in 1979) and Coniothyrium clematidis-rectae. There is a recent suggestion that the two fungi may be identical.5
The lesion of ‘Stem-Rot’
The damaging fungi are frequently found on the leaves of clematis and may even make lesions in the leaves. However, lethal damage is only done when the fungi penetrate the stem through the nodes; this is especially prone to happen if the stem has been damaged. Young green clematis stems in conditions of humidity and at a temperature between 20-25°C are unable to summon defence mechanisms to counter the invasion by the fungi. A characteristic lesion is then formed at the node. For a distance of about 1-2in (4-6cm) near the node the tissue is destroyed. The damaged area at the node becomes a characteristic black colour. As the area around the node dries the tissue falls out as a dry black powder. The area above the node turns greeny-brown, then brown and brittle and dies. The stem below the affected node remains green. The lesion extends right across the stem; this is why the action is so damaging as no sap can pass the node. Thus, the stem above the node wilts as if the stem had been physically severed.
The selected node in my experience is invariably close to the ground in the bottom four nodes. It can however start at an upper node or even a node on a branch stem. In the past there were many speculations on the nature of clematis ‘wilt’; had the stems been cut open the obvious and incontrovertible cause of the stem death would have been seen.
Management of ‘Stem Rot’
When a stem ‘wilts’ it should be severed across the green part of the stem below the dead area of the stem. This is invariably low down on the stem. Thus cut the stem just above soil level if the whole stem is involved. The end of the stem left in the ground will show its green face to you and you will know that the lesion is above this level. The lesion can be identified using one of two ways after placing the stem lengthways on a table:
1. Chip away with a sharp knife at each node starting at the bottom node of the stem. If wilt is present, you will quickly see the black area in one node. Below that node the stem is green, at the affected node it is black and the stem is brown above.
2. With care and using a sharp knife or razor blade knife it is possible to start at the bottom of the stem and slice up the middle of the stem dividing it into two parts. Sharp scissors will also do this work. As you start up the stem you will be in green tissue, at the affected area this gives way to the characteristic black lesion and above is the brown dying stem.
If you do not find the black area then your clematis has not died from ‘stem rot’ but from one of the other causes of wilting listed above.
Your next action is crucial. Stem rot rarely kills clematis. The gardener is the killer. The inexperienced assume the clematis is dead and give it no further care. Thus, it dies. The correct action is to gently explore the top half-inch of soil around the stem. Frequently you will find that the roots are already sending up shoots. So often does this happen that it is tempting to speculate that the roots have already reacted to the fungal pruning of the stem by throwing up shoots. To find the shoots will confirm your belief that the plant is alive and needs your care. If no shoots are apparent then keep up your usual care, especially watering, of the plant and shoots will soon appear. Shoot appearance can be encouraged by deep planting of the clematis which leaves some stem nodes below ground from which extra shoots can appear.
Additionally, of course, fungicides should be employed for preventive purposes and the long-term solution to stem rot is to remove C. lanuginosa and its progeny from the hybridising programme. This, and other approaches, are too lengthy to be followed in this report.
References:
1. STEEKELENBURG VAN, N.A.M. 1971. Verrwelkingsziekte in clematis. Jaarboek Proefstation Bookwekerji, Boskoop, 1971. Pp88-91.
2. STEEKELENBURG VAN, N.A.M. 1972. Verrwelkingsziekte in clematis. Jaarboek Proefstation Bookwekerji, Boskoop, 1972. Pp103-105.
4. HOWELLS, J. 1994. The genetic background of wilt in clematis. The Clematis pp.62-67.
5. CHARTIER-HOLLIS, J.M. (1996). Personal communication.
Vulnerability to clematis wilt in large flowered clematis
Dr John Howells. first published in The Clematis, 1994, p 51
Introduction
That clematis wilt is caused by one or more fungi has been demonstrated in a number of countries - USA (Gloyer, 1915], UK (Ebben & Last, 1965), The Netherlands (Blok, 1963, 1964; Rattink, 1970), New Zealand (Sith et al, 1991). A review of the literature on clematis wilt is available (Howells, 1993).
Some clematis are immune to wilt; others are vulnerable. This paper studies vulnerability in a number of popular large flowered clematis and gives the findings:
i) of a number of Dutch studies on vulnerability to clematis wilt.
ii) of the views of a group of English clematarians on vulnerability to wilt in the clematis used in the Dutch studies.
iii) of the estimations of the same group of English clematarians as in ii) above on clematis of high and low vulnerability.
The findings will be a useful guide to both the grower and buyer of clematis. A related study (Howells, 1994) analyses the genetic background of samples of clematis of high and low vulnerability to clematis wilt in an attempt to draw conclusions on the source of the vulnerability.
C. ‘Barbara Jackman’
1: Dutch studies on vulnerability of clematis wilt
Method
The Dutch studies were conducted over the three years,1971-1973 at Proefstation Boomkwekerij, Boskoop, Holland. 32 clematis were studied (Steekelenburgh Van, 1971, 1972; Slavekoorde, 1973). This paper reports on 31 clematis; x durandii was excluded because it is not regarded as a large flowered clematis. The researchers conducted 2 surveys: a) they reported the amount of natural wilting in samples of the 31 clematis in each of the three years 1971-1973; i.e. these were clematis grown in the field in the usual fashion. b) at the last two years of the research, 1972 and 1973, they introduced a fungus, Conethyrium clematis rectae, to samples of the same clematis; from previous studies it was known that this fungus was very harmful to clematis. The method chosen was to infect the ground around the clematis with the fungus in June. The plants were not damaged.
C. ‘Comtesse de Bouchaud’
C. ‘Ernest Markham’
C. ‘Hagley Hybrid’
C. ‘Henryi’
Results:
Figure 1: Wilting in clematis
The first three columns of Figure 1 show the incidence of natural wilting in each of the three years of the study. In the fourth column the results for the three years are averaged in percentages. Columns 5 and 6 show the incidence of wilt in the infected clematis group in the last two years of the study. Column 7 averages in percentages the results of columns 5 and 6. Column 8 averages the results of columns 1 to 3 and 5 and 6.
Comment
There are some reservations about these results by the researchers. The researchers comment that the findings show that more clematis wilted naturally in the first and third year than were infected with the fungus; they state ‘this is difficult to explain’. Perhaps the method chosen for infection was ineffective. Again, the infected group may have been protected by greater care, e.g. careful watering. Perhaps some destructive other agent was present in the natural group or it may have received less care. Detailed comment is as follows;
Survey A:
1: there is often inconsistency in Survey A from one year to another in the findings for particular clematis.
2: the second year, 1972, gave much lower wilting than in 1971 and 1973. There may be years when, due to natural factors, clematis may be more prone to wilt.
Survey B
1: there is often inconsistency and the findings between the two years for particular clematis, e.g. ‘Mrs Cholmondeley’. But there is less inconsistency than in Survey A.
Total table
1: the rate of wilting is greater in the natural group in the two years 1971 and 1973 (35.6% and 35.1%) with the highest year 1973 (27.48%) in the infected group.
2: there is inconsistency between the results of Survey A and Survey B. For example ‘Gipsy Queen’ (Survey A 35%; Survey B 9%); ‘William Kennett’ (Survey A 14%; Survey B 50%)
3. There were also consistent findings between the results of Survey A and Survey B, e.g. in the case of 'Barbara Jackman'; 'Comtesse de Bouchaud'; 'Henryi'; 'Lady Betty Balfour'.
4. There were some surprises e.g. 'Margot Koster' regarded as a viticella and a low wilter showed a wilting of 51% in Survey A. 'Ville de Lyon' which Morel, its raiser, said never wilted showed 24% on average for the two surveys. This raises the possibility that some other factor, or factors, other than wilt may also be operating in the study.
5. The number of plants in a trial clematis group could be as low as four making results unreliable in that group.
6. It is important to exclude the possibility that factors other than wilt may be responsible for the damage observed, e.g. insufficient watering, physical damage, frost damage, vine weevil, poor clones, etc. However, the researchers were skilled at the diagnosis of wilt and would be able to differentiate between wilt damage and other damage.
7. The highest rate of wilting (30%-43%) was seen in the following fifteen clematis: 'Lady Betty Balfour' (43%); 'Xerxes' (39%); 'Lord Neville' (36%); 'Mrs N Thompson' (36%); 'Souv. J L Delbard' (36%); 'Henryi' (34.5%); 'Bee's Jubilee' (32%); 'William Kennett' (32%); 'Mrs Cholmondeley' (31%); 'Margot Koster' (30%); 'Hybrid
The least rate of wilting was seen in the following clematis: 'Comtesse de Bouchaud' (7.5%); 'Voluceau' (11%); 'Barbara Jackman' (12%); 'Rouge Cardinal' (12%); 'Hagley Hybrid' (16%); 'Miss Bateman (17%); 'Lasurstern' (20%); 'Mme Baron-Veillard' (21%); 'The President' (22%); 'Ernest Markham' (22%); 'Duchess of Edinburgh (22.5%); 'Gipsy Queen' (23%); 'Madame le Coultre' (23%); 'Ville de Lyon' (24%); 'Jackmanii' (24%); and Jackmanii Superba' (26%).
8. Comparison of the two groups of wilters shows striking differences in relation to time of flowering. In the high wilting sample 13 of the 15 clematis (86.6%) belong to the Early Flowering Group of large flowered clematis while only two (13.4%) belong to the Late Flowering Group of large flowered clematis. In contrast, in the low wilting sample the reverse ratio is seen. 10 out of 16 clematis of the low wilters (62.5%) belong to the Late Flowering Group of the large flowering clematis. 6 out of the 16 (37.5%) clematis belong to the Early Flowering Group of the large flowered clematis. Flowering in the Early Flowering Group comes from growth made the previous year. Flowering in the Late Flowering Group comes from growth made in the year of flowering.
9. The Dutch researchers report that there is no difference of incidence of wilt in the established three groups, i.e. patens, lanuginosa and florida groups. This is understandable; clematis should not be classified according to habitus but by genetic constitution. For example, lanuginosa and patens crossed can produce seedlings of different habitus. Those of patens habitus are put into the patens group. Those of lanuginosa habitus are put in the lanuginosa group. But the genetic background of the two groups may be similar. While there may be no difference between the traditional three groups it is notable that the heavy wilters are all from the Early Flowering Group of large flowered clematis - with the exception of 'Lady Betty Balfour' and 'Margot Koster' and the Late Flowering Group has a preponderance of low wilters.
10. Despite some inconsistencies in the findings there is still strong correlation between the findings here and the next two studies to be reported. Nevertheless, the inconsistencies of detail and small samples exclude elaborate statistical analysis.
C. ‘Jackmanii’
C. ‘Lady Betty Balfour’
II The First British Study:
Method
The list of the thirty-one clematis used in the Dutch study were sent to a random sample of 19 experienced growers and gardeners in the UK. They were invited to score each clematis as low wilter (1 point), medium wilter (2 points) and high wilter (3 points). The scorers were unaware of the Dutch findings. The scores were added up for each clematis.
Results
Figure II
Column 2 of Figure II gives the total points for each clematis. Column 3 gives the number of observers and Column 4 gives the score after correcting for the number of observers. There was no comment on 'Souv. J L Delbard' as it was not known to the observers.
C. ‘Lasurstern’
C. ‘Margot Koster’
C. ‘Madame Baron-Veillard’
Comment
1. The 15 estimated high wilters in order of severity were (points in brackets):
2. The fifteen estimated low wilters in order of least severity were (points in brackets): 'Margot Koster' (20.1); 'Madame Baron-Veillard' (20.1); 'Hagley Hybrid' (21.1); 'Ville de Lyon' (22); 'Comtesse de Bouchaud' (23%); 'Miss Bateman' (24); 'Sealand Gem' (24); 'Ernest Markham' (25.3); 'Voluceau' (26); 'Lady Betty Balfour' (26.1); 'Kathleen Dunford' (27.1); 'Gipsy Queen' (27.4); 'Rouge Cardinal' (27.5); 'William Kennett' (28); 'Lasurstern' (28.5).
3. Two very experienced growers did not complete the questionnaire as they held that all large flowered clematis wilted.
4. There is some correlation with the results of the Dutch studies:
The following are agreed to be high wilters in the Dutch and First British Study. There is agreement between the First British Study and A and B surveys in the Dutch Study on 'Mrs N Thompson', 'Henryi' and 'Jackmanii'. There is agreement between the First British Study and either A or B surveys in the Dutch Study on 'Madame le Coultre', 'Duchess of Edinburgh', 'Lawsoniana', 'Nelly Moser', 'Jackmanii Superba', 'Xerxes' and 'Bee's Jubilee'.
The following are agreed to be low wilters in the Dutch and First British Study. There is agreement between the First British Study and both A and B surveys in the Dutch Study on 'Comtesse de Bouchaud'. There is agreement between the first British Study and either survey A or survey B of the Dutch Study on 'Margot Koster', 'Hagley Hybrid', 'Miss Bateman', 'Sealand Gem', 'Ernest Markham' and 'Voluceau'. In the first British Study, 'Lady Betty Balfour' is assessed as a low wilter; in the Dutch Study 'Lady Betty Balfour' is rated as the highest of the wilters.
5. The striking difference between the high and low wilters in their placement in the Early or Late Flowering Groups of large flowered clematis is present here. Of the high wilters 13 out of 15 (86.6%) belong to the Early Flowering Group; the same percentage as in the Dutch study. In contrast, of the low wilters 9 out of 15 (60%) belong to the Late Flowering Group. 6 out of 15 (40%) of the low wilters belong to the Early Flowering Group.
C. ‘Madame Le Coultre’ syn. for ‘Mevrouw Le Coultre’
III The Second British Study
Method
Here 19 experienced clematarians, growers and gardeners, were asked to select the five clematis with the highest record for wilting and the five clematis with the lowest record for wilting. The clematis were then listed in rank order for the number of mentions by the observers. Some of the clematis mentioned were not in the Dutch studies; it was thus hoped to extend the area of research to a topical and larger sample of large flowered clematis.
Results
Occasionally, a clematis would be selected both as a high and a low wilter by different evaluators. If a clematis rated as a high wilter had a mention as a low wilter then an adjustment was made in that clematis's number of mentions - and vice versa, i.e. in the case of a high wilter the number of mentions as a low wilter would be subtracted from the total of mentions as a high wilters. In the findings the number of mentions is given in the brackets.
The highest wilters, with more than one mention, were estimated to be: 'Vyvyan Pennell' (7); 'Countess of Lovelace' (4); 'Mrs N Thompson' (4); 'Moonlight' (4); 'General Sikorski' (4); 'Henryi' (3); 'William Kennett' (3); 'Duchess of Edinburgh' (3); 'Sylvia Denny' (2); 'Mrs Cholmondeley' (2).
1. The correlation with the First English Study was high, as might be expected, as the same observers were employed.
2. There is also the same correlation with the Dutch study as in the First English study.
3. The striking trend noticed in the first two studies was present here. 10 out of 10 (100%) of the high wilters belong to the Early Flowering Group. 8 out of 13 (61.50%) of the low wilters belong to the Late Flowering Group. This finding strongly correlates with the findings in the Dutch Study and in the First English Study.
Conclusions:
Wilt is widespread as can be seen by the incidence of natural wilting in the samples in the Dutch study and the views of experienced British clematarians.
The high wilters invariably came from the Early Flowering Group of large flowered clematis. The low wilters tended to come from the Late Flowering Group of large flowering clematis. All three studies agreed about this finding.
The tables in figures I and II may be a general guide to a grower of the susceptibility to wilt in his plants and a guide to the gardener in his purchasing.
It is also noted that some of the clematis shown to be low wilters are among the most popular of clematis. Presumably, low wilting has led to the purchasers being pleased and this has stimulated demand for that particular clematis. In this connection it is seen that 'Gipsy Queen' is a lower wilter than the rather similar 'Jackmanii Superba' or 'Jackmanii'; this may help to explain that 'Gipsy Queen' is often sold as Jackmanii. A recent survey shows that the first six clematis in the list of low wilters to follow are in the list of ten most popular clematis in the surveys of 1989 and 1994. (Brooks 1994.)
In the findings there is a paradox. 'Vyvyan Pennell' rated the highest wilter of all, is still arguably the most beautiful of all clematis, indeed the Queen of Clematis. Anyone who knows the plant would still grow it because of its outstanding beauty. Thus large flowered clematis are still worth purchasing as effective measures can be taken against the clematis wilt. Unfortunately the control methods are unlikely to be known by new purchasers who are put off buying clematis by the deaths that ensue. Thus, clematis wilt is the "Achilles heel" of clematis.
It is useful to have a list of indubitably high or low wilters. This list of high and low wilters is attempted here. It is made up of the findings of the Second British Study which brought in clematis not considered in the First British Study, the findings that correlated between the Dutch Study and the First English Study and the outstanding findings in the Dutch Study - 'Lady Betty Balfour' and 'Barbara Jackman'. The figure in brackets is the number of mentions in the Second English Study, and with the ranking in the First British Study, allows ranking to occur here. A clematis of only two mentions in the Second British Study is not included unless it has strong support in the other two studies.
High Wilters in rank order of severity of wilting:
'Vyvyan Pennell' (7); 'Countess of Lovelace' (4); 'Madame Le Coultre'' 'Duchess of Edinburgh' (3); 'Mrs N Thompson' (4); 'Moonlight' (4); 'Henryi' (3); 'Lawsoniana'; 'William Kennett' (3); 'Jackmanii; 'Xerxes'; 'Bee's Jubilee'; 'Mrs Cholmondeley' (2); 'Lady Betty Balfour'. It should be noted that 12 out of 14 (85.7%) listed come from the Early Flowering Group and 2 out of 14 (14.3%) from the Late Flowering Group. There is strong disagreement between the Dutch and First British study over the status of 'Lady Betty Balfour'. It is assessed as a low wilter in the First British Study.
Low Wilters in rank order of least severity of wilting: 'Hagley Hybrid' (9); 'Ville de Lyon' (5); 'Gipsy Queen' (4); 'Comtesse de Bouchaud (4); 'Perle d'Azur' (4); 'Dr Ruppel' (4); 'Margot Koster'; 'Sealand Gem'; 'Ernest Markham'; 'Voluceau'; 'Barbara Jackman'; 'Nelly Moser' (3); 'Miss Bateman' (2); 'Huldine' (2). It should be noted that 9 out of 14 (64.31%) come from the Late Flowering Group and 5 out of 14 (35.7%) come from the Early Flowering Group.
These samples will be the basis of a related study comparing the genetic background of the two samples.
Section 3 | Propagating, breeding and growing clematis
References:
BLOK, I. 1963. Verwelkingsziekte in clematis. Jaarboek Proefstation Boomkwekerij Boskoop 1963, pp.86-89.
BLOK, I. 1964. De Verwelkingsziekte van clematis. Netherlands Journal Plant Pathology, Vol.70, pp.67-68.
BROOKS, R. 1994. Clematis Analysis. The Clematis 1994.
EBBEN, H.S. and LAST, F.T. 1965. Clematis wilt. Report Glasshouse Crop Research Institute, pp.128-131.
GLOYER, W.O. 1915. Iascochyta clematidina, the cause of stem-rot and leaf spot in clematis. Technical report No.44, New York Agricultural and Experimental Station, Geneva, N.Y.
HOWELLS, J. 1993. Clematis wilt. A Review of the Literature. The Plantsman. 15. p.148
HOWELLS, J. 1994. The Genetic Background of Wilting Clematis. The Clematis 1994. p.62.
RATTINK, H. 1970. Verweklingsziekte in clematis. Jaarboek Proefstation Boomkwekerij, Boskoop, 1970. p.79.
SMITH, G.R., COLE, A.L.J. and MUNRO, M.H.G. 1987. Leaf spot and wilt of large flowered clematis hybrids caused by Phoma clematidina (Thüm.) Boerema. Australian Microbiologist. Vol. 8. P.210.
STEEKELENBURG VAN, N.A.M. 1971. Verwelkingsziekte in clematis. Jaarboek
My thanks for response to questionnaires to: Pat Gawler, Frank Cadge, G S Greenway, Vince Denny, Harry Caddick, Mike Adams, Ruth Gooch, Derek Cox, Margaret Morris, Jerry and Jenny Earl, Malcolm Freeman, Everett Leeds, Arthur Steffen, Nick Hall, Denis Bradshaw, Christopher Lloyd, Mike Brown, Fred Wein and for constructive comment to Jim Fisk, John Fopma, Richard Pennell, Ian Sayer and Robin Savill.
C. ‘Xerxes’
C. ‘Mrs N Thompson’
C. ‘Rouge Cardinal’
C. ‘Nelly Moser’
C. ‘Ville de Lyon’
C. ‘William Kennett’
C. ‘Voluceau’
New Clematis: registrations
2022 Clematis Registrations
Sarah Holme, RHS International Registrar for cultivated plants (Clematis and Lily)
Iwas delighted to receive twenty-seven new cultivars for registration in 2022. My most sincere thanks goes to all those Registrants who diligently filled out their forms and answered all my queries. For anyone who is interested in registering their new cultivar names, the process is free, easy to do, and once registered, your cultivar name will be properly established in print. Please contact me with any questions that you might have, I will be very happy to help.
The most recent Clematis registration application form can be downloaded from http://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/plantsmanship/plant-registration/Clematis-registration. Please do ensure that your forms are signed in all the relevant places, enabling the RHS to store and publish certain details (especially on page 3, which contains the important General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) information). For anyone wishing to register new cultivar epithets I would strongly encourage you to contact me in the first instance so that I can check whether the name choices are (a) acceptable (according to the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants) and (b) that they are available to use (i.e., have not been used already).
New registration applications (or enhancements to existing, published descriptions) should be e-mailed either to sarahholme@rhs.org.uk or clematisregistrar@rhs.org.uk, both will reach me. If you are returning registration forms by post please ensure that they are addressed to: RHS Clematis Registrar, Horticultural Taxonomy, Hilltop Building, RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey, UK, GU23 6QB.
Sarah Holme
International Clematis Registrar
Clematis cultivars registered in 2022
The 2022 registration report first appeared in this summer’s Clematis International 2023 journal (p.19-37).
R: V. Le May Neville-Parry (2014), S: V. Le May Neville-Parry (2012), N: V. Le
May Neville-Parry (2018), REG: V. Le
May Neville-Parry (2022)
Fls single, flat or flattish, upward- or outward-facing, not scented. Buds light pinkish green. Sepals 4 (5-6); greenish white (155C) but flushed light pink on different areas of the sepal, outside of sepal pinkish white (N155B); 2.5 × 1.5 cm, elliptic, touching at base, with slightly wavy margins, rounded to blunt at tip, outside of sepals with downy hairs. Stamens numerous; filaments yellowish white; anthers yellow. Seed-heads persistent. Deciduous climber, with stems up to 1.5-2 m, with downy hairs.
Lvs simple to ternate, with downy hairs, shiny bronze when young, margins regularly toothed; tip acute. FL: Late April to early June (outdoors), on previous season’s growth. Hardy to RHS H4.
Published refs: The Clematis 2018: 115; The Clematis 2019: 134-5
As with the seed parent, ‘The Jewell’, flowers are bunched and stand proud of the leaves.
‘Beauty Berry’ Viticella Group
Parentage: ‘Black Tea’ (s) × viticella
H: T. Sano (2012), G: T. Sano (2019), N: T. Sano (2022), REG: T. Sano (2022)
Fls hermaphrodite, single, flat or flattish, 5.6 (4.4-7.2) cm across, upward- or outward-facing, not scented; pedicels with fine white (NN155D) hairs. Sepals 4-5; inside colour greyish violet (N92D) with two-ribbed dark greyish violet (N92A) bar (appears as a purplish red bar when held against the light), outside colour brilliant violet (86D) with three prominent pale yellow-green (157A) ribs, outside of sepals with fine white (NN155D) hairs. Sepals 2.81 (2.2-3.6) × 2.17 (1.52.9) cm; elliptic to broadly elliptic, occasionally obovate, touching at base with gaps between, minutely wavy-margined (especially distally), tip rounded to acute with a slight apiculate apex, tip recurved. Sepal margins curl back with maturity and more rapidly with rising temperatures. Staminodes absent. Stamens: filaments light yellow green (150D); connectives moderate orange (166D), anthers light yellow; pollen yellowish white. Pistils: styles and stigmas light yellow-green. Seed-heads persistent. Deciduous climber, with stems up to 1.76 m. Stems moderate reddish brown (177A) with fine white (NN155D) hairs when young, maturing to hairless moderate yellowish pink (N170D) with dark brown flecks. Lvs ternate, moderate yellowish green (137C) when young maturing to moderate olive-green (137A), with white (NN155D) hairs on underside, margins entire and slightly wavy, leaf blade lanceolate; tip acute. FL: May-June (outdoors) on current year’s growth. Hardy USDA zones 9a-9b.
When the cultivar first blooms the sepals are a rich deep purple colour and the name comes from the similarity in flower colour to the Japanese Beauty Berry (fruit). Smallflowered, Viticella type.
‘Birthday
Girl’ Early Largeflowered Group
Parentage: ‘Westerplatte’ (s) × ‘MAR-12113-04’
H: S. Marczyński (2013), G: S. Marczyński (2016), N: S. Marczyński (2021), I: Clematis Źródło Dobrych Pnączy (2023), REG: S. Marczyński (2022)
Fls hermaphrodite, semi-double with single flowers in summer on new growth, flat or flattish, 11-13 cm across, upward- or outward-facing, not scented. Sepals 6-8 and in Spring with up to 20 sepaloid staminodes, usually much shorter than sepals; purplish pink with a broad, velvety, deep reddish pink bar (narrower on staminodes) with diffuse margins, sepals becoming light purplish pink on maturity, undersides of sepal light reddish pink to very light purple-pink and with light grey indumentum. Sepals 6 × 2.5-4.5 cm, broadly elliptic, overlapping, base cuneate, distinctly wavy-margined, rounded to acute at tip but with a distinct apiculus. Sepaloid staminodes 2-4 cm long, light purplish pink (generally a lighter colour than sepals), bar occasionally appears as a narrow deep reddish pink line. Stamens numerous; filaments greenish yellow; connectives and anthers dark red; pollen creamy white; pistils creamy white; seed-heads persistent. Deciduous climber, with stems up to 0.2-1.2 m, purple when young maturing to mid-green. Lvs simple to ternate, green when young maturing to mid-green, underside with light grey indumentum, base cordate; margins entire; tip acute. FL: Mid-May to mid-July (outdoors) on previous season’s growth. Hardy USDA zones 4-9.
Published refs: Clematis Źródło Dobrych Pnączy Oferta Wiosna 2023 (12/11/2022)
The cultivar is a very compact plant.
‘Black Magic’ Montana Group
Parentage: courtoisii (s) × hancockiana
H: R. Qian, Q. Hu, J. Zheng, Y. Chen & X. Ma (2017), G: R. Qian, Q. Hu, J. Zheng, Y. Chen & X. Ma (2020), N: R. Qian, Q. Hu, J. Zheng, Y. Chen & X. Ma (2022), REG: Zhejiang Institute of Subtropical Crops, China (2022)
Fls hermaphrodite, single, flat with sepals becoming reflexed back on maturity, 6.08-7.5 cm across, upward- and outwardfacing, borne singly, not scented; pedicels long, yellow-green. Buds conical, with white (NN155D) downy hairs, appearing pale yellow-green. Sepals 5; greyish purple (N77A) at base and along centre of sepal, shading to dark purplish red (approximately N79A) then dark purplish red (approximately N79C) distally and into margins. Outside of sepal appearing pinkish white with flushes of yellow-green centrally and at tip. Sepals 2.8-3.62 × 0.9-1.31 cm; narrowly elliptic, thick and fleshy, with gaps between the sepals, base cuneate, margins rolled under at base of sepal before opening out distally, long-pointed with sepal tip recurved and appearing to twist at the apex. Staminodes absent. Stamens well spaced out on maturity with the pollen producing anthers contrasting with the dark filaments and sepals; filaments and connectives dark purplish grey (N186A); anthers dark greyish red (N186C); pollen yellowish white; styles light yellow-green with silky white hairs; stigmas brilliant violet (92A). Seed-heads persistent. Deciduous climber, stems with white (NN155D) hairs. Lvs ternate to bi-ternate; green maturing to mid-green; base cordate, margins entire, tip acute. FL: April to June (under glass) on current year’s growth. Hardy to USDA zones 8-11.
Original script: 黑魔术 or ‘Hei Mo Shu’ (translates to “black magic”).
‘Bouquet of Eden’ Viorna Group
Parentage: Parentage known to breeder but not disclosed.
Fls hermaphrodite, single, broadly bellshaped, buds nodding but flowers opening outward-facing or slightly upward, borne singly in axils, with a strong, sweet floral scent, with a hint of honey. Flowers produced in axils along stem and can end with a terminal flower; pedicel 8-14 cm, with scattered hairs, with a pair of bracteoles 2-4 cm from axil (except terminal flower). Each stem can produce 7-11 flowers. Buds long conical, ridged, tip slightly twisted, strong reddish purple. Sepals 4 (occasionally 5-6); strong reddish purple (N78A) over a white ground, colour more intense along central bar, base of bar flushed strong purple (N87B); outside of sepals strong reddish purple over a white ground, colour more intense along central bar, 3-5 central ridges running from base and tapering towards apex. Sepals 4-4.3 × 2 cm, elliptic, touching in basal third to half before opening out with slightly reflexed tips, margins slightly recurved, tip acute and sometimes becoming twisted with age; outside of sepals with white indumentum from the outer ridges towards margins (not on central ridge). Staminodes absent. Stamens numerous; filaments strong purple (N87B); connectives pale greenish yellow (2D); anthers pale greenish yellow (2D); pistils pale greenish yellow (2D). Seed-heads persistent. Climber with stems up to 2.5-3 m, stems brownish orange (N167B) when mature. Lvs with 12-21 lflets, green maturing to moderate yellowish green (138A); margins entire or deeply lobed; tip acute. FL: Mid-April if hard pruned in mid-March (Taiwan, outdoors in container), on current year’s growth.
‘Burning Snow’
Parentage: Parentage known to breeder but not disclosed.
Fls hermaphrodite, single, opening cup-shaped maturing to a flatter saucershaped flower, 10.5 cm across, upward- or outward-facing, borne singly in axils, not scented. Stem terminates in a single flower or cyme (with 3-7 flowers) with lateral flowers produced in axil below, lateral flowers with a pair of bracteoles, bracteole margins entire or lobed. Buds ovate with an acute to acuminate tip, ridged and covered with fine white hairs; young buds strong yellow-green (143C) with a thin line of purplish red along ridges, mature buds deep purplish red (59B). Sepals 4-6; white (NN155C) with velvety red-purple colouration in distal third to half of central bar in mature flowers (strong purplish red (60B) over a strong purplish red (61B) ground becoming deep red (60A) at tip), in newly opened flowers red-purple flush increases distally along length (of bar), base of tepals white; margins white but flushed red-purple at tip. Outside of sepals white with wide central strong purplish red (60B) bar, with prominent ridges running along length and tapering towards tip, tip flushed red-purple. Sepals 5.7-6.5 × 1.8-2.2 cm, narrowly elliptic to lanceolate, apex long pointed with a recurved caudate tip, touching at base but older flowers with gaps between sepals, wavymargined distally when first open with margins appearing slightly curved inwards, mature flowers with slightly wavy margins that appear to be rolled outwards; distinctive central grooves running along length of sepal to tip. Staminodes absent. Stamens numerous; filaments white at base becoming very light purple (76B); anthers deep pink (185D); pollen greyish white. Pistils creamy white. Seed-heads persistent. Climber, with stems up to 1.6-1.8 m, stems moderate yellow-green (146C) when young, maturing to moderate reddish brown (175A) or moderate red (181B). Lvs with 5-11 leaflets, strong yellow-green (143A/B) maturing to moderate olive-green (137B); margins entire or lobed; tip acute. Whole plant with scattered hairs except for leaf blades and inside of flower. FL: Early- to mid-May, on current year’s growth. A second flush of flowers in late autumn is possible in warmer zones (Taiwan, outdoors in container). USDA zone 9-12.
‘ChunYu’ Texensis Group
S: Y. La (2022), REG: Institute of Flowers, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangxi, China (2022)
Fls hermaphrodite, single, narrow bell- to urn-shaped, 1.5 cm across, outward-facing, borne singly in axils. Sepals 4; outside of sepals light purple at base (approximately N82D) shading to very pale purple distally (approximately 76C), margins white becoming broadly so at tip, inside of sepals white flushed pale yellow-green at tip and in distal margins. Sepals 2.2 × 1.5 cm, elliptic, thick and fleshy, touching along basal two-thirds to three quarters with distal parts free and recurved, distal free margins minutely ruffled, tip acute and recurved. Stamens: filaments and connectives yellow; anthers yellow; pistils: stigmas yellow. Seed tail plumose. Evergreen climber; roots fibrous. Lvs simple, green when young maturing to dark green; margins entire. FL: June-July (under glass) on current year’s growth.
Original script: 春雨, translates to “spring rain”.
‘First Light’ Early Largeflowered Group
Parentage: ‘My Darling’ (s) × ‘Jerzy Popiełuszko’
H: S. Marczyński (2013), G: S. Marczyński (2016), N: S. Marczyński (2021), I: Clematis Źródło Dobrych Pnączy (2023), REG: S. Marczyński (2022)
Fls hermaphrodite, double and semidouble with single flowers in summer on new growth, flat or flattish, 13-14 cm across, upward- or outward-facing, not scented. Buds flushed light yellow to light yellow-green. Sepals 6, in Spring with up to 50 or more sepaloid staminodes, usually much shorter than sepals; yellowish white when young, with a light yellow bar becoming light yellow-green distally, tips distinctly light yellow-green, sepals creamy white on underside, colour becoming less yellow on maturity, almost white with a minute flush of yellow-green at tips. Sepals 6-7× 4-5 cm; broadly elliptic to broadly ovate, overlapping, ruffled- to wavy-margined, tip acute, outside of sepals with creamy white hairs. Sepaloid staminodes 2-4 cm, lighter in colour than sepals, rarely with a purplish red streak at tips. Stamens: filaments creamy white becoming purplish red distally; connectives and anthers purple. Pistils creamy white, seed-heads persistent. Deciduous climber, with stems up to 1-1.5 m, stems purple when young maturing to mid-green. Lvs simple and ternate, green when young maturing to mid-green, base cordate; margins entire; tip acute. FL: June-July (outdoors) on previous season’s growth. Hardy to USDA zones 4-9.
Published refs: Clematis Źródło Dobrych Pnączy Oferta Wiosna 2023 (12/11/2022)
‘Horizon Sunset’
Parentage: cadmia (s) × Selected hybrid of ‘Burford Bell’
Fls hermaphrodite, single, saucer-shaped, 10.5-11.5 cm across, upward- or outwardfacing, borne singly in axils, not scented. Young buds widely ovate, yellowish green with ridges, maturing to deep red narrowly ovate buds with acuminate tips. Buds may be facing upward or be slightly nodding. Sepals 4-6; strong purple (N82B) at base, extending along centre of sepal in a distinct elliptical area but increasingly becoming velvety deep red (60A) distally and in margins; outside deep purplish red (59B), appearing lighter due to scattered white hairs (denser near margins). Sepals 5.2-5.5 × 2.22.4 cm, elliptic, touching at base, gaps between sepals, with ruffled margins, basal third of margins bent inwards then appears to be slightly curled back distally (older flowers have strongly recurved margins from midway to tip), tip acuminate and slightly twisted as it recurves; inside surface with distinct grooves. Staminodes absent. Stamens numerous with anthers that bend over to one side (almost to 90 degrees) and overlap, appearing to form a whirl in a clockwise direction; filaments white with hints of violet at base; anthers pale greenish yellow (2D). Pistils creamy white. Seed-heads persistent. Climber with stems up to 2-2.3 m, stems moderate reddish brown (175A). Lvs with 5-11 lflets, green maturing to greyish olive-green (137B); margins entire or deeply lobed; tip acute. Fl: Late-April if hard pruned in mid-March (Taiwan, outdoors in container), on current year’s growth. USDA zones 9-12.
‘Hot Kisses’
Parentage: ‘Innocent Blush’ (s) × ‘Pink Beauty’
H: S. Marczyński (2013), G: S. Marczyński (2017), N: S. Marczyński (2021), I: Clematis Źródło Dobrych Pnączy (2023), REG: S. Marczyński (2022)
Fls hermaphrodite, double to semi-double, with single flowers in summer on new growth; flattish dome 12-14 cm across, upward- or outward-facing, not scented. Sepals 8, in Spring with up to 80 sepaloid staminodes; deep matt red, sometimes with a greyish red bar, becoming pink and lighter as sepals fade, grey-pink on the underside of sepals; 6-7 × 3.5-4.2 cm, broadly elliptic to elliptic, overlapping, wavy-margined, tip broadly acute to rounded and somewhat blunt, outside of sepals with light grey hairs. Sepaloid staminodes 3-7 cm, same colour as sepals. Stamens: filaments and anthers yellow. Pistils light yellow; seed-heads persistent. Deciduous climber, with stems up to 1.5-2 m, stems purple when young maturing to mid-green. Large simple leaves together with leaves divided into two and three leaflets, green when young maturing to mid-green, underside of leaves with light grey hairs, base cordate; margins entire; tip acute. FL: May-July (outdoors), on previous season’s growth. Hardy to USDA zones 4-9.
Published refs: Clematis Źródło Dobrych Pnączy Oferta Wiosna 2023 (12/11/2022)
‘Hot Love’ Early Largeflowered Group
Parentage: ‘Innocent Blush’ (s) × ‘Pink Beauty’
H: S. Marczyński (2013), G: S. Marczyński (2016), N: S. Marczyński (2021), I: Clematis Źródło Dobrych Pnączy (2023), REG: S. Marczyński (2022)
Fls hermaphrodite, double to semi-double, with single flowers in summer on new growth; flattish dome 10-14 cm across, upward- or outward-facing, not scented. Sepals 8, in Spring with up to 120 sepaloid staminodes, usually much shorter than sepals; deep matt reddish pink, sometimes with a light pinkish bar, becoming pink and lighter as sepals fade, grey-pink on the underside. Sepals 6 × 3.5-4.5 cm; elliptic to broadly elliptic, overlapping, with slightly wavy margins, sepals rounded to somewhat blunt at tip, sepaloid staminodes rounded to broadly acute at tip but with a distinct apiculus (giving a somewhat long-pointed appearance); outside of sepals with light grey hairs. Sepaloid staminodes 3-6 cm, same colour as sepals. Stamens: filaments and anthers yellow; pistils light yellow; seed-heads persistent. Deciduous climber, with stems up to 1.2-1.6 m, stems purple when young maturing to mid-green. Large simple leaves together with leaves divided into three leaflets, green when young maturing to mid-green, underside of leaves with light grey hairs, base cordate; margins entire; tip acute. FL: MayJuly (outdoors), on previous season’s growth. Hardy to USDA zones 4-9.
Published refs: Clematis Źródło Dobrych Pnączy Oferta Wiosna 2023 (12/11/2022)
‘Jan Karski’ Late Largeflowered Group
Parentage: ‘Maria Skłodowska Curie’ (s) × ‘Prince Charles’
H: S. Marczyński (2013), G: S. Marczyński (2016), N: S. Marczyński (2022), I: Clematis Źródło Dobrych Pnączy (2023), REG: S. Marczyński (2022)
Fls hermaphrodite, single, flat or flattish, 9-11.5 cm across, upward- or outwardfacing, not scented. Buds long pointed, light yellow-green flushed purple at base with dark purple ridges. Sepals (4)6; predominately white in centre of sepal shading through a very light purplish blue ‘marbling’ to light purplish blue or light violet in margins, tip darker purplish blue than margins; colour becoming lighter as it fades (on maturity). Underside of sepal very similar in colouration with the addition of three distinct purple to purplish blue veins against the white centre, base flushed purplish blue. Sepals 4.5-5 × 2.5-3 cm, elliptic, overlapping in basal third, with slightly wavy margins, rounded to acute at tip but with a distinct apiculus, tip slightly recurved and twisted to one side; distinct furrows on upperside of sepal (at base). Staminodes absent. Stamens: filaments creamy white; anthers yellow. Pistils creamy white. Seed-heads persistent. Deciduous climber, with stems up to 2-3 m, stems purple when young maturing to mid-green. Large simple leaves together with leaves divided into two and three leaflets, green when young maturing to mid-green, base somewhat truncate to cordate; margins entire; tip acute. FL: June-July (outdoors), on previous season’s and current year’s growth (i.e., old and young wood). Hardy to USDA zones 4-9.
Published refs: Clematis Źródło Dobrych Pnączy Oferta Wiosna 2023 (12/11/2022)
The cultivar ‘Jan Karski’ has the colours and shape resembling the Star of David and commemorates Jan Karski, a pre-war diplomat and officer of the Polish Army, who joined the resistance movement after the occupation of Poland by Germany. Endowed with a photographic memory and knowing several languages he became an ‘underground’ courier, making several dangerous trips to the Polish government-in-exile in Great Britain, the last of which was to provide the Allies with information about the extermination of the Jews. Wanting to be an eyewitness, he managed to enter the Warsaw ghetto twice and, disguised as a Ukrainian soldier, to the transit camp in Izbica. In November 1942 Jan Karski reached London where he prepared detailed reports for the Polish governmentin-exile and the British Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anthony Eden. He was later sent to Washington, where he met President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
‘Joan Twigger’ Viorna Group
Parentage: ‘Burford Bell’
S: R. Hodson (2018), G: R. Hodson (2020), N: R. Hodson (2022), I: Hawthornes Clematis Nursery (2022), REG: R. Hodson (2022)
Fls hermaphrodite, single, bell-shaped, nodding or drooping, pedicel minutely hairy. Sepals 4; inside of sepals light purplish pink becoming reddish purple towards tip, outside of sepals reddish purple to purplish pink at base gradually shading to light purplish pink or light pink towards tips, tips minutely flushed yellow-green. Sepals 3 × 1 cm, elliptic, thick and fleshy, margins touching along basal two-thirds then free distally, appearing to be minutely rolled inwards for remaining distal third, long-pointed with recurved tip, with prominent central rib, adjoining sepal margins also giving a ribbed appearance, minutely hairy. Staminodes absent. Stamens numerous; anthers light yellow; pistils creamy white. Deciduous climber. Stems green flushed reddish brown when mature. Lvs ternate, young leaves yellow-green, maturing to dark green; margins entire to very slightly wavy, occasionally lobed; tip rounded to acute. FL: July to September (outdoors) on current year’s growth.
‘MAR-2015-014-009’
Atragene Group
Parentage: Parentage known to breeder but not disclosed.
H: S. Marczyński (2015), G: S. Marczyński (2017), N: S. Marczyński (2022), I: Clematis Źródło Dobrych Pnączy (2023), REG: S. Marczyński (2022)
Fls hermaphrodite, double, broadly and open bell-shaped, 7 cm across, not scented; pedicels light yellow flushed purplish pink. Sepals 4 with 12-16 sepaloid staminodes; white flushed light purple at the base, 3.5-4 × 1.2-1.5 cm. Sepals somewhat ovate to elliptic, tip acute and slightly recurved, touching only at base and with gaps between, margins slightly wavy, outside of sepals with fine white hair. Sepaloid staminodes white (same colour as sepals), 3 cm long, narrowly elliptic, overlapping, margins slightly wavy, long-pointed with tip slightly recurved. Stamens: filaments and anthers yellow. Seed-heads persistent. Deciduous climber, with stems up to 2-2.2 m, stems yellow when young maturing to purple. Lvs divided into 3-5 lflets, yellow when young maturing to yellow, or greenish yellow if shaded; margins irregularly toothed; tip acute. FL: End of April-May on previous year’s growth. Hardy to USDA zones 4-9.
Published refs: Clematis Źródło Dobrych Pnączy Oferta Wiosna 2023 (12/11/2022)
Trade: LUMINOUS SNOW
‘MAR-2015-014-011’ Atragene Group
Parentage: Parentage known to breeder but not disclosed.
H: S. Marczyński (2015), G: S. Marczyński (2017), N: S. Marczyński (2022), I: Clematis Źródło Dobrych Pnączy (2023), REG: S. Marczyński (2022)
Fls hermaphrodite, double, broadly and open bell-shaped, 7-9 cm across, with a light citrus scent. Sepals 4 with 11-15 sepaloid staminodes, purplish pink, 3.5 × 1.7-1.9 cm. Sepals broadly elliptic, touching only at base and with gaps between, margins slightly curved upwards on maturity, tip broadly acute, outside of sepals with fine grey hair. Sepaloid staminodes purplish pink (same colour as sepals), 3 cm long, narrowly elliptic, overlapping, with slightly wavy margins, long pointed with tip slightly recurved. Stamens: filaments creamy green; anthers yellow-green. Seed-heads persistent. Deciduous climber, with stems up to 2.5-3 m, stems yellow when young maturing to purple. Lvs divided into 3-5 lflets, yellow when young maturing to yellow, or greenish yellow if shaded; margins irregularly toothed; tip acute. FL: End of April-May on previous year’s growth. Hardy to USDA zones 4-9.
Published refs: Clematis Źródło Dobrych Pnączy Oferta Wiosna 2023 (12/11/2022)
Trade: LUMINOUS DUSK
‘Modoc
White’ Early Largeflowered Group
Parentage: (patens × VdL) × patens
H: G.W. Vann (2018), REG: G.W. Vann (2022)
Fls hermaphrodite, single, flat or flattish, 8.5-9.5 cm across, upward- or outwardfacing, bi-axillary and terminal flowers, not scented. Sepals 8; white centrally shading to pale purplish pink then purplish pink in margins, edge of sepals purplish pink to reddish purple, outside of sepals pink with yellow calyces; 6 × 2.5-3 cm, broadly elliptic, overlapping in basal third to half, wavy-margined, long-pointed. Filaments white; anthers light yellow. Stigmas yellow. Seed-heads not persistent. Deciduous climber, with stems up to 3 m. Lvs trifoliate, green when young maturing to mid-green; margins entire. FL: June-July (outdoors) on current year’s growth. Hardy to USDA zones 6-9.
Fairly early, very bright and floriferous with medium sized flowers.
‘Orchid One’ Viticella Group
Parentage: ‘Emilia Plater’ (s) × ‘Kommerei’
H: T. Sano (2008), G: T. Sano (2019), N: T. Sano (2021), REG: T. Sano (2022)
Fls hermaphrodite, single, flat or flattish, 7.3 (6.2-8.2) cm across, upward- or outward-facing at time of flowering, not scented; pedicel yellow-green, length elongates greatly before flowering and continues after flowering. Sepals 4, 5, 6; pale purple (N75D) fading with maturity to light purple (85A) or very light purple (85C), two-ribbed bar pale purple (N75B); outside of sepals pale purple (N75D), three-ribbed bar strong purple (77B) and corresponds to a quarter of the total width of the sepals; with white (NN155D) hairs.
Sepals 3.6 (3.1-4.0) × 2.7 (2.2-3.3) cm; elliptic to broadly elliptic, occasionally obovate; overlapping to just touching at base with gaps between the sepals; with slightly wavy margins; rounded to occasionally blunt at tip; with two indistinct rows of bump-like texture (not rugose) towards tip, tip slightly recurved. Staminodes absent. Stamens: filaments greenish white (145C); connectives light yellow-green; anthers light yellow (151C); pollen yellowish white. Pistils: styles and stigmas pale yellow-green. Seed-heads persistent. Deciduous climber, with stems up to 1.88 m, stems dark reddish orange (173A) when young maturing to moderate yellowish pink (N170D); young stems with white (NN155D) hairs, mature stem glabrous. Lvs ternate, moderate yellowish green (138A) when young maturing to moderate yellow-green (137C); underside of leaves with white (NN155D) hairs; margins entire; leaf blade lanceolate; tip acute. Fl: May-June (outdoors) on previous and current year’s growth. Hardy to USDA zones 9a-9b.
Medium sized flower, Viticella type.
‘Patience’ Montana Group
Parentage: Chance seedling; parentage unknown
S: V. Le May Neville-Parry (2016), G: V. Le May Neville-Parry (2016), N: V. Le May Neville-Parry, REG: V. Le May Neville-Parry (2022)
Fls single, flat or flattish, 7 cm across, upward- or outward-facing, with light vanilla scent, two flowers from most leaf axils. Sepals 4; inside and outside of sepal pinkish white (N155B), outside flushed light pink in centre at base (where sepals join pedicel) fading distally with occasional light yellow-green flush at tips; 3.5 × 2.5 cm, broadly elliptic, overlapping at base, rounded at tip, tip slightly recurved and crimped; with very pale downy hairs on inside of sepal; pedicels quite long meaning flowers stand proud of leaves. Staminodes absent. Stamens numerous; filaments yellowish white (155D), very long at 2 cm; anthers pale yellow-green (155A). Stigma moderate yellowish green (138A). Seed-heads persistent throughout summer and early autumn. Deciduous climber, with stems up to 2.5 m, moderate yellowish green (138A) when young maturing to greyish brown (166A), with very pale downy hairs. Lvs ternate, shiny dark greyish yellowish brown (N200A), with a crimped or puckered (‘seersucker’) texture when young, maturing to moderate yellowish green (138A), very pale downy hairs on underside of leaves; margins slightly toothed although young leaves more toothed than mature leaves; tip acute. FL: Throughout May and June (outdoors), on previous season’s growth. Hardy to RHS H4.
Published refs: The Clematis 2019 137-8
It is suspected that ‘The Jewell’ might be one of the parents due to the leaf shape and colour.
‘Pink Molasses’ Early Largeflowered Group
Parentage: Parentage known to breeder but not disclosed.
Fls hermaphrodite, single, flat or flattish, upward-facing, 10-11 cm across, flowers produced directly from leaf axil at the 4th-6th nodes of stem from new growth, in opposite arrangement, with about 4-5 pairs of flowers per stem; with a strong sweet floral, honeyed fragrance; pedicel 7-12 cm, strong yellow-green (143B) bearing 2-5 simple or lobed bracteoles 2-5 cm from axil, with scattered hairs. Buds conical, pale yellowish green, with scattered hairs.
Sepals 6; light reddish purple (N75A) over a white ground, paler towards margin. Early flowers in Spring (with insignificant sunlight) may only have a reddish purple (N75A) bar on white ground; older flowers are paler and can be white or with the outline of a purple (N75C) bar. Sepals 5-5.5 × 2.5-3 cm, papery texture, broadly elliptic, touching at base, slightly wavy-margins, margins recurved, long-pointed, tip acute. Staminodes absent. Stamens numerous; filaments white; connectives greyish purplish red (N77B) tinted dark purplish red (N79C) at tip; anthers white (NN155B); pollen pale yellow. Seed-heads persistent. Seed tail non-plumose. Climbing vine, with stems up to 2-3 m, moderate reddish brown (166B) tinted moderate red (183C) when young, maturing to moderate reddish brown (166B). 15 lflets, margins entire or deeply lobed, tip acute, green when young maturing to moderate yellow-green (137C), with scattered hairs, petiole 4-7 cm long, greyish olive-green (137C) with a hint of greyish brown (166A). FL: Mid- April if hard pruned in mid-March (Taiwan, outdoors in container), on current year’s growth. USDA zone 10-12.
‘Première
Étoile’ Early Largeflowered Group
Parentage: ‘Aoi-Sora’ (s) × ‘Fuyu-no-tabi’
H: T. Sano (2015), G: T. Sano (2019), N: T. Sano (2022), REG: T. Sano (2022)
Fls hermaphrodite, single, cup-shaped becoming flat or flattish, 15.3 (12.4-18.0) cm across, upward- or outward-facing at time of blooming, with a faint citrus scent; pedicels yellow-green. Sepals 6, 7, 8; inside of sepal opening light purple (85A) then maturing to very light purple (85C); central two-ribbed bar strong purple (77B), colour strongest at base and fading distally, the contrasting bar and sepal colours form a star-shape in the centre of the flower. Outside sepal colouration similar but with three-ribbed, light yellow-green (2C) to pale greenish yellow (2D) central bar which fades distally, with yellowish white (NN155A) or white (NN155D) hairs. Sepals 7.6 (6.2-9.0) × 2.5 (1.9-3.0) cm, narrowly elliptic to elliptic, touching to overlapping in basal half but occasionally with gaps between sepals, long-pointed, tip slightly recurved. Occasional sepaloid staminodes present (not numerous), 5.7 × 1.4 cm, same colour (including bar) as sepals. Stamens: filaments white (NN155B); connectives dark yellowish pink (181D); anthers pinkish white; pollen light yellow. Pistils: styles and stigmas white. Seed-heads persistent. Deciduous climber, with stems up to 0.78 m, stems brownish orange (N167A) when young maturing to moderate yellowish pink (N170D) with dark brown flecks; young stems with yellowish white (NN155A) or white (NN155D) hairs, mature stem glabrous. Lvs ternate, moderate olivegreen (146A) when young maturing to greyish olive-green (NN137A); underside of leaves with yellowish white (NN155A) or white (NN155D) hairs; base cordate; margins entire; leaf blade lanceolate; tip acute. FL: April-May (outdoors) on previous and current year’s growth. Hardy to USDA zones 9a-9b.
Epithet means “first star (of the evening)”. The strong purple bar radiating from the centre looks like a star against the very light purple background.
‘Red Roll’ Montana Group
Parentage: lanuginosa (s) × hancockiana
H: R. Qian, Q. Hu, J. Zheng, Y. Chen & X. Ma (2017), G: R. Qian, Q. Hu, J. Zheng, Y. Chen & X. Ma (2020), N: R. Qian, Q. Hu, J. Zheng, Y. Chen & X. Ma (2022), REG: Zhejiang Institute of Subtropical Crops, China (2022)
Fls hermaphrodite, single, flat or flattish, 4.21-5.35 cm across, upward- or outwardfacing, borne singly in axils, not scented; pedicels yellow-green. Buds rounded to elliptic, densely hairy, hairs greenish white. Sepals 8; light reddish purple (N75A) over a paler ground with colour becoming stronger in margins, light purplish pink bar; 2.06-2.65 × 1.14-1.43 cm, broadly elliptic to obovate, overlapping, base cuneate, wavy-margined, rounded to blunt at tip. Staminodes absent. Stamens numerous; filaments white at base becoming deep reddish purple (71A) distally; connectives deep reddish purple (71A) maturing to dark purple (83A) after dehiscence; anthers strong reddish purple (N78B) to deep purple (N81A); pollen creamy white. Pistils: styles yellow-green at base becoming light yellow; stigmas white or yellowish white. Seed-heads persistent. Deciduous climber, stems with white (NN155D) hairs. Upper lvs ternate, middle and lower leaves ternate to bi-ternate, green when young maturing to midgreen, base rounded to cordate; margins entire; tip acute, underside of leaves with white (NN155D) hairs, petiole greyish reddish purple (N77C). FL: April-June (under glass) on current year’s growth. Hardy to USDA zones 8-11.
Original script: 红卷 or ‘Hong Juan’ (translates to “red roll”).
‘Red Starfish’ Montana Group
Parentage: courtoisii (s) × hancockiana
H: R. Qian, J. Zheng, Q. Hu, Y. Chen, X. Ma & Y. Ye (2017), G: R. Qian, J. Zheng, Q. Hu, Y. Chen, X. Ma & Y. Ye (2020), N: R. Qian, J. Zheng, Q. Hu, Y. Chen, X. Ma & Y. Ye (2022), REG: Zhejiang Institute of Subtropical Crops, China (2022)
Fls hermaphrodite, single, flat or flattish, 5.7-8.72 cm across, upward- or outwardfacing, borne singly in axils, not scented; pedicels yellow-green. Sepals 5-6; dark purplish red (N79A), underside creamy white with a light yellow-green midrib, 2.62-4.34 × 0.67-1.23 cm; narrowly elliptic, not overlapping (with gaps between sepals) although touching at base; with slightly wavy margins that are curved backwards, almost forming a tube; apex long-pointed; tip slightly recurved giving sepal a somewhat twisted appearance. Staminodes absent. Stamens numerous; filaments dark purplish red (N79A) at base becoming dark greyish purple (N186B); connectives dark greyish purple (N186B); anthers strong reddish purple (NN78A); pollen yellowish white. Pistils: styles white; stigmas dark greyish purple (202A). Seed-heads persistent. Deciduous climber, stems with white (NN155D) hairs. Upper lvs ternate, middle and lower leaves ternate to biternate, yellow-green when young maturing to mid-green, base rounded to cordate; margins entire; tip acute. FL: April-June (under glass) on current year’s growth. Hardy. USDA zones 8-11.
Original script: 红海星 or ‘Hong Hai Xing’ (translates to Red starfish”)
‘Roger’ Viorna Group
Parentage: texensis (s) × ‘Rubra’
H: G.W. Vann (2018), REG: G.W. Vann (2022)
Fls hermaphrodite, single, urn-shaped, 2 cm across, nodding or semi-drooping, bi-axillary and terminal flowers, very floriferous, not scented. Sepals 4; outside of sepals purplish red to red, tips dark purplish red, distal margins light pink flushed reddish pink along the minutely ruffled edges; inside of sepals white at base, recurved tips purplish red to red, very narrow white margins at point where sepals recurve becoming purplish red to red distally. Sepals 2.5-3 × 1.5-2 cm, broadly elliptic, thick and fleshy, touching along basal three quarters, tip acute and recurved, moderate ‘skirts’ with minutely ruffled to fine crispate-like margins (Texensis normally does not have skirts). Filaments white; anthers yellow. Seed-heads persistent, seeds with long tails but short hairs. Deciduous climber, with stems up to 3-4 m. Lvs simple, green when young maturing to mid-green, margins entire, fairly thick rounded single leaflets with prehensile tendrils. FL: June-July (outdoors) on current year’s growth. Hardy to USDA zones 6-9.
‘Spring Fog’ Early Largeflowered Group
Parentage: Parentage known to breeder but not disclosed.
Fls hermaphrodite, single, flat or flattish, 13.5-14 cm across with a large central boss, upward-facing, borne singly; lateral flower has a pair of bracteoles with entire margins; scent reminiscent of the large White Moth Orchid, the warmer the temperature the stronger the scent. Buds ovate, yellowish green. Sepals 6-8; strong purple (N82A) when first open becoming brilliant violet (90D) with a hint of strong purple (N82A) at base when fully opened, older flowers may become light violet (N88D); underside of sepals with central white bar extending from base and narrowing towards tip, along three prominent veins. Sepals 6.5-7× 3.8-4 cm, obovate with apiculate apex, overlapping in lower third to half, with very slightly wavy margins. Staminodes absent. Stamens numerous; filaments white; connectives light greenish yellow (8C); anthers light greenish yellow (8D). Pistils white. Seed-heads persistent, seed tail non-plumose but with scattered hair in lower half. Climber with stems up to 2-3 m, stems moderate reddish brown (177A) when young maturing to moderate red (183C). Lvs pinnate, with 5 lflets, green maturing to moderate olivegreen (137B), ovate to broadly lanceolate, tip acuminate, margins entire, petiole dark red (187A). Indumentum white, sparsely present on whole plant except leaf blades and inside of sepals. FL: Mid- April if hard pruned in mid-March (Taiwan, outdoors in container), on current year’s growth. USDA zone 10-12.
‘Strawberry
Shortcake’ Late Large-flowered Group
Parentage: Volunteer seedling × unknown
S: M. Miller (2006), G: M. Miller (2008), N: Spring Hill Nursery (2022), I: Spring Hill Nursery (2023), REG: M. Miller (2022)
Fls hermaphrodite, flowers mostly double throughout the season, with the occasional semi-double and single flowers, flat or flattish, 5.3-6.3 cm across, upward- or outward-facing, borne singly, not scented. Sepal number variable; outer row of sepals purplish pink (73A) with inner bar very light pinkish purple (75C), remaining sepaloid staminodes 73A centrally becoming 75C in margins; with occasional touches of mid-green; innermost sepaloid staminodes very light pinkish purple (75C) with inner bar purplish pink (73A) almost to tip. Sepals 3 × 1-2 cm (Sepaloid staminodes 1.5-2 cm long); elliptic, overlapping, with slightly wavy margins (outer sepals) to very wavy or ruffled margins (innermost staminodes), long-pointed to acute at tip, outside of sepals with whitish hairs. Stamens numerous; filaments yellowish white (158D); connectives pale yellow; anthers yellowish white (158D). Seed-heads not persistent. Deciduous climber, with stems up to 1-1.2 m; stems with whitish hairs. Lvs sometimes three-lobed when immature, trifoliate when mature, green when young maturing to dark green, margins entire, with whitish hairs on the underside of the leaves. FL: June-September (outdoors) on current year’s growth. Hardy to at least USDA zone 5a.
‘TamLyn’ Montana Group
Parentage: montana var. wilsonii × Unknown
S: V. Le May Neville-Parry (2018), G: V. Le May Neville-Parry, N: V. Le May Neville-Parry, REG: V. Le May NevilleParry (2022)
Fls hermaphrodite, single, flat or flattish, 6 cm across, upward- or outward-facing, not scented. Buds pale yellow-green, upward pointing, elongated and pointed. Sepals 4(5); inside of sepals pale yellow-green (155A), outside of sepals pale yellow-green (157A) flushed pinkish white (N155B) in margin edges, deeply ribbed; 2.5 × 1.5 cm, ribs yellowish green, broadly elliptic, occasionally obovate, overlapping at base, with slightly wavy margins, rounded to acute at tip, with apiculate or a small cuspidate apex, with downy hairs on sepals. Stamens numerous; filaments yellow-green (N144B); anthers yellow-green (144B). Seed-heads not persistent. Deciduous climber, with stems up to 1.7 m, stems with downy hairs. Lvs ternate, green (N138A); margins irregularly toothed; tip acute. FL: April-May to early June (outdoors) on previous season’s growth. Hardy to RHS H4.
Published refs: The Clematis 2019 143-4
‘The Light of Formosa’ Early Large-flowered
Group
Parentage: Parentage known to breeder but not disclosed.
Fls hermaphrodite, single, opening saucershaped maturing to flat or flattish, 7-7.5 cm across, borne singly in axils, on warm and sunny days has a mild honey and lemon scent; pedicel yellow-green, 6-8 cm, bearing 1-3 bracteoles 0.5-2 cm from axil, petiole greyish brown (166A). Buds pale yellow-green with reddish purple tint. Sepals 6; white with a very light reddish purple (77A) central bar, which appears when it is warm and sunny, underside white flushed pale yellow-green along central three prominent veins to tip; 3.5-3.8 × 2-2.2 cm, broadly elliptic, overlapping at base, rounded at apex occasionally with small apiculus. Staminodes absent. Stamens numerous; filaments greenish white (155C) to white; anthers dark purplish red (N79C); pollen yellowish white. Seed-heads persistent. Climbing vine, with stems up to 2-3 m, mature stems dark red (187A), with scattered hairs. 15-18 lflets, moderate olive-green (137B) with irregular dark purple (83A) patches on surface and heavily speckled on the underside; margins entire; tip acute. FL: Early April if pruned in early March (Taiwan, outdoors in container), on current year’s growth. USDA zone 10-12.
The Registrant suggests that the cultivar sits within the Florida group, which equates to the Early Large-flowered Group adopted by the ICRA.
PLANT CENTRE & GARDEN
Clematis Viticella Group
‘Keith Treadaway’
Richard Hodson
In 2005 I was very pleased to be awarded the status of National Collection Holder of Clematis Viticella Group, a position which I still hold. This role involves searching for some of the older varieties of the chosen group of plants, many of which have been sadly lost over the years, then propagating, and making them available again to the gardening public. Also keeping stocks of the newer, more readily available forms. Plus, of course, plenty of paperwork. Over the years I have learned so much from other Collection Holders of this fabulous genus, people like Mike Brown, Charlie Pridham, Val le May Neville-Parry, and Keith Treadaway. All legends in my eyes.
Keith was National Collection Holder for the Viorna Group of clematis from 1st September 2003 until 1st January 2011 and I had plenty of dialogue with him over that period. He was always ready to help with problems, as were the other Collection Holders. I only met Keith once. He called here at our Hawthornes Clematis Nursery in Lancashire in August 2007, as he was on his way to the Lake District with his wife Jan. I was aware that he was going to call in and we had arranged to exchange bits of viticella and viorna clematis plant material and seeds.
I was really pleased when he gave me some young Viticella Group seedlings, which he had grown from Clematis ‘Joan Baker’, seed from BCS Seed Exchange, probably donated by Mike Brown, from whom I obtained a piece of the much-coveted C.‘Joan Baker’ a few years later.
I grew them on until flowering stage when one of them really stood out so I planted it in the garden, probably 12 years ago, possibly more. It is still in the same position in the garden, growing through a pink rose, Rosa ‘Reine des Violettes’, together with a pink Viorna Group cultivar which I like very much, C. ‘Odoriba’, through a very tall metal obelisk. It is a fabulous plant, receives no attention apart from hard pruning every February, but does receive a lot of comments from garden visitors. Flower shape very similar to C.‘Jolly Jake’ or C.‘Carol Leeds’, but a very unusual silvery-blue colour. It has superb foliage, is disease-free, very floriferous over a long Summer period; immaculate. Every year I look at the plant and I ask myself, why have I not propagated it, then I always reply, yes, I will do next year. So now after the very sad news that Keith had passed away, with the approval of Keith’s family, this has been registered with the International Registrar as Clematis ‘Keith Treadaway’, and I hope we will be able to have plants available soon.
Registration report, received from the International Registrar, September 2023:
‘Keith Treadaway’ Viticella Group
Parentage: ‘Joan Baker’ (s)
H: K. Treadaway (2006), G: R. Hodson, N: R. Hodson (2023), I: Hawthornes Clematis Nursery (2023), REG: R. Hodson (2023)
Fls hermaphrodite, single, broadly bell-shaped to flat (cruciform) with sepals recurved on maturity, outward- to downward-facing; pedicels purple-red. Buds conical, nodding, purplish-red. Sepals 4; underside of sepals reddish purple to purple over a paler ground, with noticeable reddish purple to purple venation in margins, base of sepal and sepal margins pale lilac; outside of sepals light reddish purple with broad pale lilac margins, 3 × 1 cm, elliptic, widely spaced, touching only at base, wavy-margined, long-pointed, tip recurved. Staminodes absent. Filaments light greenish yellow; connectives light yellow-green; anthers light greenish yellow. Pistils light yellow. Deciduous climber, stems reddish brown when mature. Lvs ternate (occasionally terminal leaflet lobed), green when young maturing to mid-green, margins entire, tip acute; petiole purplish red. FL: July to September (outdoors, UK) on current year’s growth. Very floriferous.
Published refs: The Journal of the British Clematis Society, The Clematis (2023)
