clematis.org

Welcome to the official website of the American Clematis Society

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 08:00:00 GMT

For over a decade we have dedicated ourselves to promoting and understanding growing clematis in the United States.

In 2010 we hope to keep growing as a society as we did in 2009. As new varieties of clematis arrive, we will continue to evaluate them and provide descriptions and photographs. We will also keep an eye on the relatively young introductions and keep you current on their level of performance. Hopefully, the doom and gloom of the past year is behind us and we can all look forward to a fulfilling year, not only in the garden, but in our own lives.

2009-2010 BUYER’S GUIDE

We have updated our ACS buyer’s guide on the website (http://clematis.org/learn/buyers_guide). This is the 6th edition and just as in the first one in 2000 our goal is to offer our members and other clematis gardeners as many different choices of clematis vendors as possible to select from.

I love Consumer Reports and Cook’s Illustrated magazines because both of these publications evaluate items in a non-biased fashion. I wish we could do this with clematis but because they are living organisms and there are so many variables involved, this is the closest way that I could think of to give companies that sell clematis the opportunity to show clematis gardeners what they have to offer. Just as I have in the past, I contacted every American clematis nursery I could find that sells more than one or two. In October, 2008, I invited 35 mail order nurseries to participate. If I missed any it was purely an oversight and I would love to include them if they contact me. As in the past, I am surprised by the clematis companies that did not choose to participate because I think it is win-win for everyone and it does not cost them a dime (okay maybe the cost of postage to send us a copy of their catalog for verification of facts). So, if you do not see information about a nursery listed in the Buyer’s Guide, it is their choice not ours. Here’s hoping that they will come on board in 2011-2012.

As more and more gardeners are growing clematis in USDA Zones 10 & 11 it is sad to see that there has been little headway made with vendors when it comes to the zoning assigned to clematis for growing them in warmer locales. To date there are only 2 nurseries that have taken the step in the right direction. So, I would like to give them special recognition. In 2001, Brushwood Nursery was the very first nursery to recognize that most clematis can prosper in USDA Zones 4 through 11 and they posted the correct growing zones on their website. Last year Bluestone Perennials also came on board. So, I would personally like to thank both of them for their free-minded thinking because it tells more gardeners that they have the ability to grow clematis.

You may have noticed five stars next to the names of mail order nurseries. In 2009, when we revamped our website to include the Member’s Only section, we included a “popularity poll” to give ACS members a chance to vote for the nurseries of their choice. These rating are not unbiased but, since our members are the gardeners who are buying clematis, I feel they should have a method to weigh in on their experiences and be counted. I welcome any of our new or veteran members who have not yet voted to do so. Remember, you only get one vote, so make it count.

USDA Zones: Making Progress

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 07:00:00 GMT

We are proud to announce that we are making headway in the battle to correctly identify in which USDA Zones clematis will grow. The 2004 edition of the American Horticultural Society A To Z Encyclopedia Of Garden Plants has expanded their zoning for clematis to include USDA Zones 4 through 11.

Numerous garden writers have also acknowledged this expanded zoning in articles they have written. For example:

Aitken, Steve, “Clematis that can take the heat”, Fine Gardening, Jan/Feb 2004.

Ross, Marty, “Clematis”, Country Home Country Gardens, Summer 2003.

Sterman, Nan, “You Say Clematis & I Say…”, San Diego Home/Garden, May 2003.

Riccio, Peggy, “Clematis: Queen of Climbers”, ChesapeakeHome, April 2003.

Cohoon, Sharon, “Clematis In Mild Climates?”, Sunset Magazine, April 2002.

Malek, Edith, “Clematis for American Gardens.”, The American Gardener Magazine March/April 2002.

Sawyer-Fay, Rebecca, “Clematis”, Country Living Gardener, August 2000.

The society would like to recognize growers and mail-order nurseries that have accepted USDA Zone 4 through 11 criteria for clematis. As it stands now, the one brave soul out there to attribute the correct zones to his product is Dan Long of Brushwood Nursery. As more nurseries come around to our way of thinking, we will list them on the website.

And finally, the book by Edith Malek, Simply Clematis…Clematis Made Simple gives clematis gardeners a concise yet comprehensive guide about growing clematis, that includes a section on addressing correct zoning.

Correct Growing Zones For Clematis In The United States

Mon, 28 Jan 2002 08:00:00 GMT

The American Clematis Society, originally the Southern California Clematis Society, was founded in 1996. It is the first clematis society in this country. The purpose of forming the society was not only to promote clematis, but also to help educate American gardeners about how they grow in this country as well as how to care for them. American gardeners have been left out when it comes to understanding these incredible flowing vines, and we are dedicated to acquiring all the information available that is out there and sharing it with our members. We are a non-profit organization with members throughout the United States and Europe.

"The vision must be followed by the venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps - We must step up the stairs." - Vance Havner

My vision for clematis in America is to give gardeners a clear understanding of where clematis can grow here. This can be accomplished through research and documentation and even experimentation. It is all right to take chances and not just follow the flock. Be a pioneer.

With the continued exposure in articles and books, the popularity of clematis will increase. With increased popularity there comes more demand. With more demand there comes more selection. With more selection there comes more recognition. And this recognition will fulfill my dream of making clematis as "Recognizable as the Rose".

I believe by changing attitudes and proper education, more American gardeners will come to enjoy the pleasures of clematis. Considering what those pleasures bring, the future looks bright!

Since one of the key objectives of our society is identifying the correct growing zones for clematis in the U.S. I would like to share with you an article I wrote on the subject.

Correct Growing Zones For Clematis In The United States

The United States is made up of many diverse growing regions and they are divided into climate zones. The most frequently mentioned reference guide to these zones is the Official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, which has our country divided into 11 climate zones.

Until the American Clematis Society's Guide to Growing Clematis in the United States was published, there were no books available to American gardeners that address our diverse growing zones correctly. Sadly, this is still the case. It is most alarming to me that there are still books on clematis being produced that are utilizing these incorrect zones.

The question is, "how did these growing zones first originate?", particularly since there has never been a comprehensive study conducted in the United States that legitimately answers where clematis will grow successfully in our 11 climate zones. There was a study conducted in Chicago to find how clematis grow in our USDA Zone 5b but, unfortunately, I believe its conclusions weren't based on enough sufficient data to formulate an accurate evaluation (For more details see page 10 of May/June 2000 The Clematis Chronicle).

Why am I so concerned? Because the number of correct growing zones directly correlates with the future of how popular clematis will become in the U.S. The American Clematis Society will never realize our goal of making clematis, as "Recognizable as the Rose" in the U.S. until we have the correct growing zones. I believe American gardeners deserve this information so I will continue to be a vocal advocate to rectify the use of improper growing zones and my ultimate objective is to help lead the way for conclusive studies of our approved growing zones for clematis success in America!

Hopefully articles such as this and the work of our society and its members will help rectify this problem so that clematis will step to the forefront as a staple in American gardens.

Faithfully yours,

Edith

Growing Clematis in zones 4-11 IS possible!

Thu, 01 Feb 2001 08:00:00 GMT

Dear Clematis Enthusiast or Future Clematis Gardener,

If you are an American gardener who is contemplating growing clematis in USDA growing zones 4-11 but have been concerned because the present information available about clematis has them listed as growing only in USDA zones 5-9, I would like to share an article I wrote for our newsletter in the January/February 2001 issue of The Clematis Chronicle.

Giving Clematis Their Rightful Place in the U.S.

As you may know, we formed the Southern California Clematis Society in April, 1996 in order to dispel the myth that clematis do not grow in Southern California. Our goals were to reach as many gardeners as possible, get the word out that clematis will grow in the U.S., give information on how to grow them successfully and to promote the hybridization of American clematis cultivars.

In 1997 I wrote an article titled, So, You Think That Disneyland Is The Only Attraction In Southern California! It is the first time I addressed USDA growing zones in an International arena. Unfortunately, the humor was lost and it was re-titled Clematis News from South California.

Here is an excerpt from the first paragraph:

You may not be aware of it, but Disneyland is not the only attraction in Southern California. We grow large hybrid clematis here! Despite what you may have read or heard, it is not accurate that clematis can not be grown here. It is not just an annual vine. According to the gardening bible, Sunset Western Garden Book, clematis can grow in all 24 zones of California except for mountain and desert areas where they need special care. Even in these difficult areas you can grow the many beautiful Clematis viticellas. A gentleman in Temple City has been growing a C. x 'Jackmanii' for over 26 years in a zone 20 and it is truly a site to behold!

Last year I was invited to submit another article to the same clematis journal. They wanted something different this time, not just news of what our society was doing. So, I sent the following article:

Correct Growing Zones For Clematis In The United States

Until the American Clematis Society's Guide to Growing Clematis in the United States was published, there were no books available to American gardeners that addresses our diverse growing zones correctly. Sadly, this is still the case. It is most alarming to me that there are still books on Clematis being produced that are utilizing these incorrect zones.

Why am I so concerned? Because the number of correct growing zones directly correlates with the future of how popular Clematis will become in the U.S. The American Clematis Society will never realize our goal of making Clematis, as "Recognizable as the Rose" in the U.S. until we have the correct growing zones. I believe American gardeners deserve this information so I will continue to be a vocal advocate to rectify the use of improper growing zones and my ultimate objective is to help lead the way for conclusive studies of our approved growing zones for clematis success in America!

I guess the above article proved to be too controversial because it was not utilized. I realize it is only my opinion but I would have liked to have seen it printed so other clematis gardeners from other parts of the world would begin to understand how diverse our country is.

This is something that is extremely important and we all should do what ever we can to stop this use of incorrect USDA growing zones. So, if we ever want clematis to have their rightful place in the U.S., we must take some kind of action. I believe filling out our Clematis Bloom Charts is one of the ways we can all help understand how and where they grow. It is not perfect but it is certainly a lot better than using the results of an inconclusive evaluation.

In conclusion, you may be wondering why I am so adamant about this issue. Well, if I had followed the traditional wisdom of where clematis can grow, I would never have experienced the joy Clematis have brought me over the last 7 years. I truly want to give every American gardener the same chance to experience growing this exquisite flowering vine that I have had and prevent them from being misled by the unproven USDA growing zones.

Faithfully yours,

Edith