Winter-flowering clematis

Winter-flowering clematis: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Evergreen climber 3–4 m tall and 1.5–2 m wide, with thin, much-branched stems.

Leaves

Glossy dark green, simple or in threes, often deeply cut. The leaf stalks twine around wires and twigs.

Flowers

Nodding, bell-shaped flowers 4–5 cm long, creamy white to greenish white, often speckled red inside, from December to March.

Fruit

Silvery, silky seedheads in spring.

Summer rest

In summer growth stops and some leaves may drop. In autumn it starts growing again.

Flowering: December–March · Plants: April–May and September · Pruning: March–April

Why grow it?

• Flowers in the middle of winter, when almost nothing else in the garden is in bloom.
• Evergreen: a green wall or fence even in winter.
• On mild winter days, bumblebees and bees visit the bells.
• The speckled insides are a surprise close up; plant it where you often walk past.
• After flowering, silvery seedheads decorate the plant.
• It hardly needs pruning.

Winter-flowering clematis: where does it grow best?

• Sun or partial shade in a warm, sheltered spot: a south- or west-facing wall is ideal.
• Sheltered from cold east and north winds, which scorch leaves and flowers.
• Well-drained soil: sand, loam or clay, neutral to chalky.
• Dry to moderately moist; it dislikes wet feet in winter.
• Plant 30–40 cm from the wall, with wires or a trellis to climb; allow a width of 1.5–2 m.

Light

Sun and partial shade

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Neutral or chalky

Moisture

Dry or normal

Size

4 m tall, 2 m wide

Hardiness

Half hardy (to -12 °C): protect it in harsh winters

Goes well with

• Italian clematis: A summer-flowering clematis on the same trellis, which blooms while the winter clematis rests.
• Winter jasmine: Yellow stars in the same winter months, against the same wall.
• Christmas rose: White winter flowers at its feet.
• Snowdrop: Flowers in February beneath the bells.
• Witch hazel: Fragrant winter flowers in yellow or orange nearby.

Winter-flowering clematis: when and how to plant it?

Plant in April–May and September.

1. Plant in April–May or September, so it can root well before winter or summer arrives.
2. First plunge the pot into a bucket of water until no more air bubbles rise.
3. Dig a hole 40 × 40 cm, 30–40 cm from the wall, and mix in some compost and, on heavy soil, coarse sand.
4. Set the plant at the same depth as in the pot, leaning slightly towards the wall.
5. Guide the stems to the wires and tie them in loosely.
6. Water in well and mulch the base with gravel or compost.

Care

Watering

Regularly in the first year, in autumn too. Little rain falls at the foot of a wall: water in dry weather during the growing period.

Feeding

After flowering, in March–April, a little compost or organic fertiliser.

Summer rest

Do not worry if it drops some leaves in July–August; then water only during long dry spells.

Tying in

Tie in the young shoots loosely in autumn and spring.

Mulching

A layer of gravel or compost around the base keeps the roots cool in summer and protects them in winter.

Tip: Plant it near a window or beside the front door: you will see the bells up close even in winter, and a sheltered wall keeps the flowers looking good.

Winter-flowering clematis: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March–April.

When: Prune lightly just after flowering, in March–April. It belongs to pruning group 1 and needs hardly any pruning.

How:

• Cut over-long and tangled stems back to just above a few pairs of healthy leaves.
• Remove dead stems and shoots browned by frost.
• An overgrown plant can be cut back hard after flowering; the next display will then be somewhat smaller.
• Do not prune in summer or autumn: you would remove the flower buds before winter.

Caution: Wear gloves: the sap can irritate the skin.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Cuttings

In May–June, take semi-ripe internodal cuttings and insert them in moist cutting compost under plastic, in a bright spot out of direct sun.

Layering

In spring, peg a low stem into the soil; after a year, sever it.

Winter-flowering clematis: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −12 °C: protect in harsh winters.

• Moderately hardy, to about −12 °C: it copes well with a normal Belgian winter in a sheltered spot, but hard frost damages flowers and foliage.
• In hard frost, hang fleece over the lower part of the plant and cover the base with straw or leaves.
• Frosted flowers turn brown, but buds that were still closed often open normally after a cold spell.
• In a pot: only in a large pot, against a warm wall in winter, with the pot wrapped.

Diseases and pests

• Frost damage: Brown flowers and shrivelled leaves after hard frost. Cut out the dead parts in spring; it usually regrows.
• Summer leaf drop: Normal during the summer rest. Water during long dry spells; new leaves appear in autumn.
• Aphids: On young shoots. Hose them off with water.
• Root rot: A plant that suddenly dies back in wet, heavy soil. In future, plant in a better-drained spot.
• No flowers: Too young, too shady or pruned in summer. Prune only just after flowering.

Through the year

• January: Flowering. Protect the base in hard frost.
• February: Flowering. Bumblebees on mild days.
• March: End of flowering. Light pruning. Spread compost.
• April: Finish pruning. Plant.
• May: Plant. Take cuttings.
• July: Summer rest. Water only during long dry spells.
• September: Plant. New growth begins; tie in young shoots.
• October: Buds swell. Tie in.
• December: First flowers. Do not prune.

Edible and useful

Not edible. All parts of clematis are poisonous: when the plant is damaged it releases protoanemonin, an acrid substance also found in buttercups and anemones. On the skin the sap can cause redness, itching and blisters, especially in people who often prune with bare hands; in the mouth it causes a burning feeling, drooling, vomiting and stomach ache. The acrid, bitter taste puts off most people and animals, but keep small children, dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs away from the plant and the clippings. Horses and other livestock can eat more of it if they reach a clematis over the fence or find the clippings: do not plant it along a field, and never throw the clippings into a field, pen or hutch. Wear gloves when pruning and tying in, and wash your hands afterwards. If any is swallowed, call a poison centre (in Belgium 070 245 245) or your doctor at once.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• Cirrhosa means ‘with tendrils’, after the leaf stalks that twine around supports.
• Its summer rest is an adaptation to the hot, dry summers of the Mediterranean.
• The form balearica, from the Balearic Islands, has especially finely cut leaves.