Winter Blooms: Unleash the Radiance of Early-Flowering Gems in Your Garden
Winter doesn't have to mean a barren garden. With the right choice of plants, you can add a splash of colour to your outdoor space even during the coldest months. One such plant is the winter-flowering Clematis, and among them, Clematis cirrhosa stands out as a notable choice.
Specifically, Clematis cirrhosa 'Freckles' is a highly recommended variety, renowned for its speckled flowers that can bloom as early as January. This evergreen plant provides year-round foliage, making it a standout choice for winter interest in the garden. The flowers of 'Freckles' are speckled with pink freckles, adding a unique touch to the winter landscape.
Another winter-flowering option is Clematis cirrhosa var. balearica, although it is less frequently mentioned in gardening sources.
Clematis 'Lunar Lass', a tender New Zealand hybrid, is another winter-flowering clematis that bears strongly citrus-scented flowers from February to April. However, due to its tender nature, it requires winter protection and is best grown in a conservatory or cold glasshouse.
Clematis 'Early Sensation' is another winter-flowering variety, producing dangling flowers from February to April. It grows up to 2m tall and 2m wide, with apple green bases and dark, waxy non-clinging foliage.
Clematis need rich, moist soil with a cool root-run, so they are best planted close to the base of perennials or shrubs to shade the soil. Clematis armandii, for instance, needs to be well fed, so a generous mulch of compost every autumn is recommended.
Clematis cirrhosa 'Ourika Valley' is the most floriferous winter Clematis cirrhosa, flowering from December to March. Another noteworthy variety is Clematis x cartmanii 'Avalanche', which holds an RHS Award of Garden Merit and bears large white flowers.
Clematis cirrhosa 'Jingle Bells' is the first Clematis cirrhosa cultivar to start flowering, in the autumn. Another winter-flowering clematis with large white flowers is Clematis x cartmanii 'Joe', which has fat buds that grow like bunches of grapes for several weeks.
Clematis armandii, with its big leathery leaves that emerge copper-coloured and mature to a shiny green, is another winter-flowering option. It produces clusters of pink-tinged buds that open to white flowers from February to May.
Clematis napaulensis, a tender species, is usually in flower in December, with green bean-shaped buds that open to reveal flowers with dangling purple stamens. It grows up to 3m tall and 1.5m wide, and needs the comfort of a cold greenhouse or conservatory in most parts of the country.
Clematis cirrhosa var. purpurascens 'Freckles' has dark pink speckles on the inside of the flower and blooms between October and February. Clematis cirrhosa var. balearica is covered with speckled, lemon-scented bells from November to March.
Clematis armandii and Clematis cirrhosa may develop woody, bird's nest growth after three or four years, and should be cut back about one third of the plant to the base. Pruning early clematis should be done after they have finished flowering.
Clematis x cartmanii and associated hybrids were originally thought too tender to grow outdoors in Britain, but can thrive in sheltered places that do not drop below -5°C during the winter, as long as they are protected from cold, drying winds.
Lastly, Clematis 'Pixie', a dwarf New Zealand hybrid, bears small buds like green berries for weeks and blooms from January to May. Clematis paniculata, a rare, vigorous plant, can grow to 4m tall and produces sweetly scented flowers.
With this variety of winter-flowering Clematis available, there's no reason for your garden to be devoid of colour during the winter months.
- Winter-flowering Clematis, such as Clematis cirrhosa 'Freckles', can add a splash of color to your garden during the coldest months, providing year-round foliage and unique flowers like those speckled with pink freckles.
- Another winter-flowering option is Clematis 'Lunar Lass', a tender New Zealand hybrid that bears strongly citrus-scented flowers from February to April, but requires winter protection and is best grown in a conservatory or cold glasshouse.
- Among the winter-flowering Clematis, Clematis cirrhosa 'Ourika Valley' is the most floriferous, blooming from December to March, while Clematis x cartmanii 'Avalanche' holds an RHS Award of Garden Merit and bears large white flowers.
- Clematis armandii, with its big leathery leaves that emerge copper-colored and mature to a shiny green, produces clusters of pink-tinged buds that open to white flowers from February to May, making it another winter-flowering option.
- Clematis napaulensis, a tender species, is usually in flower in December, with green bean-shaped buds that open to reveal flowers with dangling purple stamens, and needs the comfort of a cold greenhouse or conservatory in most parts of the country.
- Furthermore, with the diversity of winter-flowering Clematis available, from Clematis 'Pixie' to Clematis paniculata, there's no reason for your garden to be devoid of color during the winter months, even in the realm of fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, travel, education-and-self-development, or sports.
