CLEMATIS. Worldwide, temperate regions. These range from rampant vines with huge, flat blossoms to tidy bell flowered perennials. Most have 3 to 5 (or more) parted, long-stalked leaves with roughly oval, pointed and often toothed leaflets. The flowers have petal-like sepals in place of true petals, and a distinctive brush of stamens at their centers. Interesting puffs of silky-tailed seeds develop as the flowers wither. Those listed below are winter deciduous unless otherwise noted. Hybrid selections described here represent only a sampling of the hundreds currently grown worldwide. They are neatly divided by some texts according to flowering season and habit. However, our coastal climate, with its alternation of warm and cool weather for several months, seems to confuse them thoroughly. This results in generally extended flowering–a boon for coastal gardeners. Sun or light shade (generally the roots should be shaded, if only by the plant itself, to keep root temperatures down), well drained fertile soil, and moderate watering suit most species and hybrids. Hardy to 0^oF. or below, except as noted.

florida ‘Sieboldii’. A vine of moderate growth, usually 10’ or less in height. It has twice divided leaves with smooth, tapered leaflets. In summer and early fall, it carries striking 3" flowers with pure white outer segments. The centers are made up of clusters of purple, petal-like stamens.