Clematis macropetala 'Markham's Pink' is a deciduous, early flowering clematis with captivating 'crushed strawberry' coloured flowers. The flowers appear to be semi-double as they have four long sepals and a mass of shorter petaloid stamens in the centre. They are followed by attractive silver seed heads. Leaves are composed of three or five leaflets. This climber will grow up to about eight foot with a five foot spread and, ike all clematises, will fare better if its planting site is prepared with well rotted manure or by adding leaf mould to the topsoil in the planting hole. All clematises should be grown in fertile, humus rich, well drained soil with their roots and base in shade.
Propagation: Root softwood cuttings in spring or early summer. Layer in late winter or early spring. |
The creamy white, single flowers of this late spring and early summer flowering clematis give it a show-stopping quality. They may grow to eight inches in diameter with pointed sepals and dark chocolate stamens, and go on appearing for weeks from late May. The leaves are made up of three leaflets but, in severe winters, early growth may be damaged by frost. Clematis 'Henryi' will grow on any aspect and may be 20ft tall when mature. Plant it in fertile, humus rich soil that drains freely as it cannot tolerate sticky soils that stay waterlogged. All clematises should be planted deeply with the top of the root ball three inches below the soil surface, reducing the possibility of clematis wilt.
Propagation: Root softwood cuttings in spring or semi-ripe cuttings in early summer. Layer in winter or early spring. |
Clematises are loved by British gardeners and so are planted more often than other climbers. The Clematis alpina varieties never grow too large and may be planted in the smallest of gardens. Clematis alpina 'Frances Rivis' is a lovely variety with large, bell shaped flowers in a mid to violet blue and a central mass of petal like white stamens. Flowers begin appearing in mid- to late spring, followed by fluffy seed heads. Sometimes a second crop of flowers appears in the late summer. Clematis alpina varieties have deciduous leaves and are content in cold, exposed sites.
Propagation: Root softwood cuttings in spring or semi-ripe cuttings in early summer. Layer in late winter or spring. |
