Winter WONDERS
Think clematis blooms only in summer? Check out these...
AN UNEXPECTED benefit of lockdown is that I’ve become more intimate with the flora of my neighbourhood. Over the past few weeks, while taking my daily ration of exercise, I’ve spotted some wonderful plants in front gardens, but only one has ever stopped me mid-run… a beautiful winter-flowering clematis.
Spilling over a 6ft wall, the stems of Clematis urophylla ‘ Winter Beauty’ were dripping with small, bell- shaped white flowers with swept-back petals. Hardy in mild areas, its blooms were displayed against dark green, glossy leaves. Before plodding on, I took several photos of this elegant climber.
I think this cold- loving gem is the perfect plant for giving walls, fences and vertical structures a lift during its flowering period, which runs from December to February. Happy in sun or partial shade, it scales supports with twining leaf stems and is capable of growing up to 12ft tall by 8ft across.
Some readers will undoubtedly be surprised to discover there’s a clematis that flowers in winter. After al l , t hese cl i mbers are renowned for their summer blooms. I can reveal that ‘Winter Beauty’ is not alone. In fact, there are almost 30 different ones that will command attention early in the year.
As far as their appearance goes, winter-flowering clematis are poles apart from their sun-loving relatives. Rather than producing big, bright, colourful blooms, these tend to bear fairly small flowers in shades of white, and have evergreen foliage that will create a lush backdrop to a garden.
Some varieties get the show under way in late autumn and can be relied upon to flower all winter long. The buds of others appear in December and January, and open later in the season, turning heads well into spring. As a bonus, a good number of varieties have a strong, sweet scent that will delight the olfactory senses.
By far the largest group of winterflowering clematis are those related to Clematis cirrhosa, a species native to Mediterranean parts of southern Europe and parts of North Africa. Blooming from late autumn to March, the best include ‘Ourika Valley’, ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘Wisley Cream’.
Discovered in the late 18th Century on the island of Minorca, Clematis cirrhosa var. balearica is a stunner with cream flowers spotted with red that are shown off against a foil of finely cut foliage. The leaves are dark green for much of the year but take on bronze tints when temperatures drop.
For late-winter interest you can’t beat Clematis armandii, a species from China with large, glossy leaves and star- shaped, scented white flowers. Since its discovery by plant- hunter E. H. Wilson in 1900, breeders have developed several fine varieties, such as ‘Snowdrift’ and ‘Little White Charm’.
C. armandii ‘Apple Blossom’ is a belter that was introduced in the early 20th Century.
The plant turns heads from February, when masses of fat, dark pink buds open into light pink flowers that turn white as they age. It can reach heights of 25ft or more, but can be kept at a more manageable height by pruning.
Winter- flowering clematis like moist, well-drained soil, and will thrive in a spot that’s warm, sunny and sheltered – a south- or westfacing wall, fence or post is ideal. As they are twining climbers, rather than self-clinging, they will need something to grip on to, so fix training wires, mesh or trellis to upright supports.
Plant 18in from structures, in holes twice the diameter of the container and deep enough so the top of the rootball is 2in below soil level. Planting deeply helps to keep roots cool in warm weather and encourages plants to form basal buds under the surface, which will form shoots if those above ground die.
To encourage bushy growth, prune stems of newly planted specimens in spring – simply cut back to a strong pair of buds, 1ft above the ground.
After this, plants can be left to fill supports. Only trim established plants if they have outgrown their allotted space, reducing wayward stems in mid to late spring.
Some have a strong, sweet smell that will delight the senses