Re: clematis
- Subject: Re: clematis
- From: E*@aol.com
- Date: Wed, 15 Jan 2003 23:21:55 EST
In a message dated 1/15/03 8:02:13 PM Eastern Standard Time,
corgilover@wi.rr.com writes:
> Of course, the year before it's one and only bloom came out on
> December 5th! I don't think clematis and I were meant to be together.
Well, Pat, you are not alone with the reluctant clematis. Vitacellas - try
vitacellas. Of all the clematis that have died in my garden, the vitacellas
have survived.
Susan said water and it seems true, if not watered in youth there is no old
age. We have one plant, unnamed and purchased in a supermarket as 'purple,'
growing up a mock orange stripped of it's leaves for the clematis. Puzzling
over the pruning rules and having no name to work with, I leave it alone.
This orphan is strong and has produced some woody vines which now run around
other shrubs. I think the secret in the northern states is to get a plant
established and leave it alone. This one may be a pruner but I threw in the
towel a long time ago. And, there it is flowering all over some inferior
shrubs looking like an exotic tree. Never clip an inch. I recall they sold
white, pink and purple. I bought purple thinking it would die soon so why
worry over a name. That would be about eight years ago.
Other than that one, the vitacella hybrids are pretty good with Etoile
Violette being the favorite when the large flowered sorts thumb their nose at
your garden.
<A HREF="http://www.howells98.freeserve.co.uk/Pages/Gnews4.html";>Click here: The Viticella Clematis</A>
Three of these have been climbing around a Kalmia for years here, on a shale
infested slope in the full sun. It encouraged me to search and add other
vitacellas. Bill is right, the start off is better with a large and deep
hole. We mulch with gravel and small rocks.
Claire Peplowski
NYS z4
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