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PERENNIAL FOCUS
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The small bells and wispy deadheads of Clematis ‘Rooguchi’ hover above the large blossoms of Rosa rugosa ‘Coeur d’Alène’.
BOBBIE SCHWARTZ, FAPLD Bobbie’s Green Thumb
CLEMATIS THE LESSER KNOWN ONES
Most gardeners and landscape designers know and love the large-flowered, vining Clematis that we train to grow on trellises and fences as well as up and over shrubs and on the garden floor through other perennials or as ground covers. Sadly, many of those are subject to clematis wilt. However, do not despair. There are some other wonderful species and cultivars that survive for many years against all odds.
When visitors come to my garden, one of the first plants they ask about is Clematis ‘Rooguchi’. It has been in my garden since 2008 and its dark purple, downward-facing bells bloom from June until October and twine themselves into my Rosa rugosa ‘Coeur d’Alène’. In ensuing years, it has extended its reach into a neighboring Amorpha that is also visited by Clematis ‘Piilu’, a large-flowered, pale pink.
Although Clematis ‘Sapphire Indigo’ wasn’t patented until 2006, it is only within the past few years that it has drawn attention and become readily available. It is a cross between a vining and a non-vining species. The medium-sized recurved petals are a deep blue and, once established, it sprawls through other perennials and shrubs or can be used as a weedsmothering ground cover. I have two of them that I grow on very short (18 inches) obelisks that raise their stems high continued on page 10
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A closeup of Clematis ‘Sapphire Indigo’.
Clematis ‘Stand by Me’ at Chicago Botanic Garden.
Clematis ‘Sweet Summer Love’ in grass garden.
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enough to let them twine through other plants in the garden. Since ‘Sapphire Indigo’ has no tendrils, I attach the stems to the obelisk with orchid clips. This Clematis blooms from June until at least September.
Another non-vining clematis that is becoming popular is ‘Stand by Me’. This one has small, light blue to medium blue flowers and cream, thread-like seed heads from mid-July through September.
I regard Clematis terniflora, formerly called C. paniculata, as a noxious weed. It is gorgeous in bloom but it seeds everywhere and is very difficult to get rid of. I’ve purchased its cousin ‘Sweet Summer Love’ but I am withholding judgment until I have more experience with it. I love the magenta-purple color and the fragrance but fear that it will seed like Clematis terniflora. Supposedly, it has very low seed set but only time will tell. Some of my favorite Clematis belong to the Viticella species. They never get clematis wilt, they are strong growers, and, with one exception, they bloom from July until October. The exception is Clematis viticella ‘Alba Luxurians’ which blooms in June and is a collector’s item. Some of the cultivars, like ‘Warsaw Nike’ and ‘Polish Spirit’ are readily available. Both have medium-sized, dark purple flowers. My favorite is probably ‘Venosa Violacea’ which has white petals with a wide purple edge.
Although Clematis rarely do well in shade, my ‘Betty Corning’, with her pale pinky-purple, down-facing bells, thrives at the back of my driveway under a Heptacodium. She covers the ugly chain-link fence and swirls up into the Heptacodium as well.
Now that you are acquainted with more than the largeflowered Clematis, please make room for some of the lesser known cultivars.
Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, owner of Bobbie’s Green Thumb in Shaker Hts., Ohio, is a landscape designer, consultant, freelance writer, and lecturer whose specialties are perennial gardens and four season landscapes. In addition to being an Ohio Landscape Association (OLA) member, she is an active member of the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association (ONLA) and Perennial Plant Association (PPA). Bobbie is a Past President of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD). Bobbie’s new book, Garden Renovation: Transform Your Yard into the Garden of Your Dreams, was published in November 2017 by Timber Press.
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