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Ask the Clematis Queen
In Which Zones Do Clematis Bloom In United States?
Zoning is not an exact science so why do I choose to use zones when I address where clematis will bloom? At this time I do not know of a better way to give American clematis gardeners a perspective on where clematis will bloom in our country without using zones.
Stem Rot (aka Wilt) revisited...
Stem rot is best defined as a collapse (either totally or partially) of a clematis due to fungus. To date there is no known cure. With a little bit of prevention and luck, you can increase your chances of steering clear of stem rot. The important thing, however, is knowing how to avoid it, because chances are your clematis will eventually catch it.
Labeling Your Clematis!!!
Have you ever planted a clematis and then forgot which one it is? I am not sure if it is old age or just that I have planted so many, but I must admit that I have done this a few times lately. To my dismay all I can do is wait until the plant blooms to positively ID it. Obviously I need to be more diligent with my record-keeping noting what, where and when I plant. To correct this situation I have divided my garden into sections on a map and given each section a number. This enables me to more easily locate and identify what’s out there.
NEW Clematis
If you want to be the first in your neighborhood to try a new clematis why not make it an American one?
Ungrateful Children
Children.....Humphhh! You know, you do your best for them, feed them the finest food, make sure they have pure clean water to drink, discipline them when they need it, in general train them up in the way they should go. And how is one repaid...well, they test their independence and leave home!!
Winterizing Your Babies
Winter conditions can vary from zone to zone. Snow cover, early and late frosts and moisture in the soil can all have an affect on your clematis. Winterizing your clematis may be an option or even a necessity in colder locales where the ground freezes and can get down to 15° F or lower.
Grasshoppers
Any of you that have had grasshoppers in your garden know they are one of the most destructive pests. They are voracious feeders and are by no means picky eaters. Since they are herbivores, almost any plant in your garden is fair game including your clematis.
The Many Faces of Clematis
This is an article that appeared in the May/June 2006 issue of Fine Gardening. Get to know the wide variety of flower shapes and sizes this popular vine offers...flower shapes can resemble bells, lanterns, tulips, stars, saucers, or even little elf hats.
Clematis Names, Grouping and Spelling
Are you confused by the recent influx of different clematis names, groupings and/or spelling attributed to a single clematis? Who is correct when it comes to the right one?
Those Nasty Earwigs...
Earwigs are omnivorous. They wait for darkness to begin their hunt for food and shelter. They enjoy dark, damp areas and feed on dead or decaying wood such as boards or mulch. They also feed on decomposing plants and animal matter. Even though the bulk of their diet consists of decaying substances they will eat algae, mosses, insects and spiders…dead or alive.
TEPALS or SEPALS???
Botany is the scientific study of plant life. It covers the technical terminology of a plant’s anatomy. Even though it is a science it is not an absolute science, so this leaves room for disagreement. One such area of disagreement is the name for the petal-like division of the clematis flower. Is it a tepal or a sepal?
Finding the Lost American Clematis
I am amazed so little has been written about our American Clematis. I hope that there are others of you out there who also care about preserving the history of American Clematis.
Repotting, Moving or Transplanting Clematis
Now is the best time to repot, move or transplant clematis. In the January/February 2000 issue of The Clematis Chronicle I addressed the issue of transplanting your clematis for the first time. At that time I was reluctant to recommend transplanting as an option. You might even say I was squeamish about the whole idea. Since then I have performed many moves of my babies (a.k.a. clematis) without any casualties, so I am going to say that, with some reservations, it can be done quite successfully. I would like to share a few techniques that I use before you attempt any moves.
Wood Ashes & Clematis
What do you do with the wood ashes that are left from a fireplace or wood burning stove? Not living in a locale where we build a lot of fires, I am not faced with the problem of a large accumulation of wood ashes. Many resourceful gardeners use them in their gardens, so I decided to look into what wood ashes might do for your garden, especially Clematis.
Gloves…The Gardener’s Best Friend
Gloves are defined as a fitted covering for the hand with a separate sheath for each finger and the thumb but I prefer to think of them as a gardener’s best friend. Gardening gloves are often overlooked as a fundamental “tool” for gardening while some have even relegated them to being a gardening item for sissies.
Gophers, the burrowing menace
Tell Tale Signs of Gophers
How do you know if you have gophers in your garden? Those of you who are presently battling these little culprits in your garden are probably rolling your eyes right now at this insipid question. But I thought I should give those readers who are unfamiliar with these “terra firma terrors” a heads up on what to look for. The most common calling cards that announce their arrival are the emergence of little mounds of fresh soil accompanied by plants disappearing.
Tuteur
So, what are the most fashionable and well dressed clematis adorning these days? A “tuteur” of course! Tuteurs (pronounced too-TUR) are one of the newest rages to come back in style in vertical gardening since the late eighteenth century.
Clematis ‘Sieboldii’
This clematis is most often sold in this country as C. florida ‘Sieboldii’ or C. florida ‘Bicolor’
Other synonyms are C. florida var ‘Sieboldii’ C. ‘Sieboldi(i)’, C. bicolor; C. florida var bicolor and C. ‘Sieboldiana’.
My experience with Clematis ‘Sieboldii’ occurred back in 1994 when I first started my odyssey with clematis. I was completely smitten by the sheer beauty of this clematis. I planted it in a pot and to my delight it immediately flourished. Very promptly it shot up a stem which had 12 flowers and buds. It was a sight to behold. Well, that sight was short lived because it only lasted a few days when it just up and crashed completely.
If first you do not succeed, Tie Again….
In the Fall 2007 issue of The Clematis Chronicle I featured 7 different products that you could use (and rated them) to attach your clematis. As I told you then, my favorite product is no longer being manufactured. Well, bless the German company that has come up with something almost as good as Grant’s Tye. It is called “Rebiga”. So, if you want to attach your clematis with what is the Queen’s new first choice, this product is for you.
Propagating Clematis
One of the questions I get asked most frequently is “How do I propagate clematis?” Propagation is defined as a multiplication or increase, as by natural reproduction. In horticultural terms it is the process of creating a new plant via layering, cuttings or germinating seeds
Gardeners choose to propagate plants for several reasons: to satisfy the challenge of producing their own plant, because the plant is not readily available at their local nursery or because it is a relatively inexpensive way to obtain a duplication of a favorite plant.