Clematis cirrhosa var balearica
This winter flowering clematis has become popular in the last few years. Originating from the Mediterranean area and Spain, Portugal and Syria it is now grown in many gardens. For many years it was growing only in botanical collections.
Flowering in May, June and July its creamy white speckled are about flowers about 3 cm across it is an important addition to the winter garden. After flowering the silky seed heads appear. It grows about four metres high but the foliage is small and it can climb over established shrubs and small trees without killing them.
Winter is not always the best time for flowers but this Clematis will help cheer up the garden.
Clematis cirrhosa var balearica (fern leaved clematis) has very finely cut leaves and comes from Majorca, Minorca, Corsica and Sardinia and is seen along roadside and in scrub areas. Its flowers, which vary in colour in the wild (including having reddish maroon freckles on the inside of the flower) are wonderful in winter along with its fine foliage (bronzed in winter) followed by silky seed heads. They also have a nice fresh citrus scent when in full flower. They do set quite a lot of viable seed.
It grows well in the garden requiring a well-drained soil and something to climb on either a pergola or small tree like Kowhai. If required they can be pruned quite hard.
Clematis cirrhosa var balearica 'Freckles' has been released in recent years. It has larger flowers freckled with deep maroon spots. Further cultivars have been released and are available.
Other forms cultivars released include ‘Wisley Cream’ with pale cream flowers, ‘Ourika Valley’ a prolific flowering pale yellow, ‘Landsdowne Gem’ almost complexly red flowers and ‘Jingle Bells’ pale yellow flowers nodding with slightly recurved petals. All are followed by silky seed heads.
Flowering in May, June and July its creamy white speckled are about flowers about 3 cm across it is an important addition to the winter garden. After flowering the silky seed heads appear. It grows about four metres high but the foliage is small and it can climb over established shrubs and small trees without killing them.
Winter is not always the best time for flowers but this Clematis will help cheer up the garden.
Clematis cirrhosa var balearica (fern leaved clematis) has very finely cut leaves and comes from Majorca, Minorca, Corsica and Sardinia and is seen along roadside and in scrub areas. Its flowers, which vary in colour in the wild (including having reddish maroon freckles on the inside of the flower) are wonderful in winter along with its fine foliage (bronzed in winter) followed by silky seed heads. They also have a nice fresh citrus scent when in full flower. They do set quite a lot of viable seed.
It grows well in the garden requiring a well-drained soil and something to climb on either a pergola or small tree like Kowhai. If required they can be pruned quite hard.
Clematis cirrhosa var balearica 'Freckles' has been released in recent years. It has larger flowers freckled with deep maroon spots. Further cultivars have been released and are available.
Other forms cultivars released include ‘Wisley Cream’ with pale cream flowers, ‘Ourika Valley’ a prolific flowering pale yellow, ‘Landsdowne Gem’ almost complexly red flowers and ‘Jingle Bells’ pale yellow flowers nodding with slightly recurved petals. All are followed by silky seed heads.