Winter flowering Clematis
If you are looking for winter colour and interest in the garden there are several late autumn, and winter flowering Clematis .
One of the most commonly grown is Clematis cirrhosa illustrated above, this variety is purpurascens 'Freckles'. It is evergreen, scented and long flowering. It is best planted in sun, and is H4 hardy and best planted in a sheltered spot. Other varieties of C. cirrhosa are 'Christmas Surprise', 'Jingle Bells' both of which flower November on wards and have limey cream flowers. Another popular variety is C.cirrhosa 'Wisely Cream' flowering late from Januay to March and hardy to -10c.
C. armandii requires winter protection and Clematis cirrhosa var. balearica which is hardier H4, but may not survive a severe winter without protection.
There is also Clematis urophylla 'Winter Beauty' which is evergreen, scented and H3 hardy with small creamy white bell-shaped flowers.
Flowering in late winter early spring are C. alpina and macropetala and the very popular also is Clematis armandii, illustrated below, as attractive Clematis when grown in the right place noting that it is also H4 hardy.
Clematis armandii
This Clematis is evergreen or semi-evergreen . It has glossy leaves and many varieties have scented flowers. Grown in the right spot, sheltered, away from cold winds and protected from frost, it looks fantastic with very fragrant blooms. But note, it is particular about growing conditions and if not ideal, it will look poor as in the image on the right.
All these Clematis are Group 1 which means they do not require annual pruning, but they can be tricky because they are not fully hardy.
This means planting in the right place is critical to maintain the health of the plant. Because of these difficulties, I have tagged them amber wheelbarrow. Medium difficult to grow.
If you feel that frost and cold maybe a problem, it may be better to pick a Clematis. alpina or macropetala. Although both groups flower slightly later, in early spring, they are more hardy H6 making them easy to grow and still no pruning.
Last updated 03/10/2023