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.

C. armandii, evergreen clematis, is a massive vine, growing 20’ or more in all directions. It has thick green stems and long, shiny evergreen leaves. In spring it produces clouds of fragrant white blossoms. ‘Hendersonii Rubra’ is typical of the species in growth habit, size and general leaf characteristics, though it is redder than most selections in new growth. Most prominent, however, are the masses of soft pink blossoms in spring. Selected and introduced by the Henderson Experimental Gardens. Both hardy to 5-10^oF.

chrysocoma var. sericea (spooneri). This is a vigorous grower with attractive toothed, usually red tinged leaves. In spring it is draped with masses of 3" pure white, broad-petalled blossoms.

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.

integrifolia. A woody-based perennial growing 1-3’ tall, with thick, undivided leaves. In midsummer it produces large clusters of thick-textured, bell shaped blossoms, lavender-blue in color. C. integrifolia rosea is a lovely pink flowered form.

macropetala. Downy clematis. One of the less rampant vining species, with attractive toothed leaves and broadly bell shaped blossoms. It is supposedly spring blooming, but ours are seldom out of bloom from spring to fall. There are both pink and blue forms.

montana, anemone clematis, is a sturdy, dense, vigorous vine with bronzy, much-divided leaves and four-parted flowers with full, flat sepals. The best-known is the variety rubens, featuring abundant clusters of 2" pink flowers, displayed in both spring and fall in our climate. ‘Elizabeth’ is similar but has slightly larger, more fragrant flowers. ‘Tetrarose’ is notable for its large (up to 3"), long-lasting flowers, colored more vividly than those of rubens, and robust growth (of course, the wisdom of growing a more vigorous montana is open to question). The forma grandiflora bears a profusion of white flowers, though they are not strikingly large as the name would suggest.

tangutica. Golden clematis. A relatively small (10’), slender stemmed vine with intricately divided grey green leaves. It produces an abundance of 2" bell shaped, golden-yellow blossoms in summer and fall. The seed heads are quite ornamental.