Plant of the Month: Clematis cirrhosa ‘Freckles’ (December 2024)

One of the joys of walking around the neighbourhood is noticing what’s growing in front gardens and I like to stop and admire the imaginatively designed Xmas wreaths on doors at this time of year, planted window boxes and containers, and see what else is flowering in residents’ borders. And, when at bus stops, I have more time to absorb what’s around me.

So, at a bus stop a few days ago I noticed Clematis ‘Freckles’ cascading over the wall of CABAHS member Linda W’s garden. 

Linda tells me that she bought the clematis six years ago at around this time of the year – with its grey, dank days –  “when one needs cheering up and it has not disappointed.”   Linda also says that although the vine was slow to establish when planted on the cooler side of the property, it has really taken off.  It was planted with a honeysuckle and it flowers profusely in the south/south-west boundary wall.  In the summer months it can soak up the sun and in the winter is sheltered by the brick boundary wall.

Continue reading Plant of the Month: Clematis cirrhosa ‘Freckles’ (December 2024)

Plant of the Month: Clematis (September 2024)

What a struggle it has been to protect the shoots of these two clematis from sustained attacks by the usual culprits this year!  Not only did I use a garlic spray (one clove of garlic simmered in water) but I also liberally (and continually) sprinkled spent coffee grounds around the base of the plants. Although they were saved, I did lose other clematis: scented C ‘Betty Corning’, C ‘Rising Star’ and C ‘Wedding Day’ – all absolutely lovely and such a loss that I will need to repurchase them.

Clematis ‘Princess Diana’
This clematis is definitely one of my ‘top five’. The tulip-shaped flower is an unusual shade of bright pink, with beautifully striped markings both inside and outside of the petals (sepals).  This variety (texensis) was introduced by a British breeder to honour the Princess of Wales in 1984 and has deservedly been given the RHS Award of Garden Merit. 

As to be expected ‘Princess Diana’ came into flower late – in July, rather than June – and has been flowering continually, with eight flowers and a few buds on the vine at present. 

Continue reading Plant of the Month: Clematis (September 2024)