Winter Blooms: Early-Flowering Plants to Illuminate Your Garden
Winter may be a quiet time for many gardens, but not for the winter-flowering clematis. These hardy plants are known for their vibrant displays that add a splash of colour to gardens when many other plants are dormant.
One of the standout varieties is the Clematis cirrhosa, which offers a range of cultivars perfect for adding some winter cheer.
For instance, the evergreen Clematis cirrhosa 'Freckles' is a popular choice, thanks to its freckled, nodding flowers that bloom in late winter. Another winter bloomer is Clematis cirrhosa 'Wisley Cream', offering creamy yellow flowers in late winter, while 'Lansdowne Gem' delights with its pale yellow flowers.
Clematis cirrhosa 'Ourika Valley' is another winter-flowering cultivar, boasting longer and narrower tepals than the species. Meanwhile, Clematis 'Early Sensation' offers dangling buds that turn up as the flowers open, providing a spectacle from February to April.
Other winter-flowering clematis include Clematis x cartmanii 'Joe', known for its fat buds that start to appear in January and grow like bunches of grapes for several weeks until opening. Clematis paniculata, a rare, vigorous winter-flowering clematis, can grow to 4m tall, with sweetly scented flowers and silver seed heads.
For those looking for something more tender, Clematis 'Lunar Lass' is a compact, scrambling plant that bears strongly citrus-scented flowers from February to April. However, it requires winter protection and is best grown in a conservatory or cold glasshouse.
Clematis armandii, another vigorous winter-flowering clematis, has big, leathery leaves that emerge copper-coloured, maturing to a shiny green. Clusters of pink-tinged buds open to white flowers from February to May, with the perfume from hundreds of these winter-flowering clematis flowers on mature plants being quite powerful.
However, it's important to note that these plants need regular pruning to be kept under control. They flower on growth made the previous year, so pruning should be done after they have finished flowering. For cultivars like Clematis 'Early Sensation' and the cartmanii hybrids, pruning in two stages is recommended: trimming immediately after the flowers have finished, followed by cutting the whole plant back to about 50cm from the soil at the end of May.
While some winter-flowering clematis, such as Clematis cirrhosa var. purpurascens 'Freckles', may be too tender to grow outdoors in Britain, they 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.
In conclusion, winter-flowering clematis are a fantastic addition to any garden, brightening up even the coldest and darkest days. Whether you prefer the freckled blooms of Clematis cirrhosa 'Freckles' or the citrus scent of Clematis 'Lunar Lass', there's a winter-flowering clematis to suit every garden and every taste.
- Clematis cirrhosa 'Freckles', with its freckled, nodding flowers, is a popular choice for adding winter cheer to gardens.
- Winter-flowering cultivars like Clematis 'Early Sensation' require regular pruning to keep them under control, with pruning done after they have finished blooming.
- For those who desire a tender winter-flowering clematis, Clematis 'Lunar Lass' may be a suitable choice, but it requires winter protection and is best grown in a conservatory or cold glasshouse.
- Whether you prefer the rare, vigorous winter-flowering clematis Clematis paniculata or the citrus-scented Clematis 'Lunar Lass', there's a variety of winter-flowering clematis to suit every garden and every taste, making them a fantastic addition to any landscape or home-and-garden lifestyle.
