Table Of ContentAn Illustrated Encyclopedia of Clematis
An Illustrated Encyclopedia of
C L E M A T I S
Mary Toomey
&
Everett Leeds
Photography Editor
Charles Chesshire
Published in association with the
BRITISH CLEMATIS SOCIETY
TIMBER PRESS
Portland,Oregon
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Frontispiece:Clematis patensin the wild.
Photo by J. Lindmark.
Copyright 2001 by Mary Toomey,Everett Leeds,and
Charles Chesshire.All rights reserved.
Library ofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Toomey,Mary. Published in 2001 by
An illustrated encyclopedia ofclematis/Mary Toomey Timber Press,Inc.
and Everett Leeds;photograph editor,Charles Chesshire. 133 S.W.Second Avenue,Suite 450
p. cm. Portland,Oregon 97204
Includes bibliographical references (p. ).
Designed by Susan Applegate
ISBN 0-88192-508-X
Printed through Colorcraft Ltd.,Hong Kong
1.Clematis.I.Leeds,Everett.II.British Clematis Society.
III.Title. Mention oftrademark,proprietary product,or vendor does
not constitute a guarantee or warranty ofthe product by the
QK495.R215 T66 2001
583'.34—dc21 publisher or authors and does not imply its approval to the
2001027155 exclusion ofother products or vendors.
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Contents
Foreword by Mike Brown,7
Preface,9
Acknowledgements,11
How to Use This Book,13
Part I
Chapter One History and Botany of Clematis,19
Chapter Two Clematis in the Garden Landscape,32
Chapter Three Cultivation and Care,52
Chapter Four Pruning,61
Chapter Five Propagation and Hybridization,69
Chapter Six Clematis in North America by Maurice Horn & Linda Beutler,80
Chapter Seven Pests,Diseases,and Physiological Disorders,86
Part II
Chapter Eight Overview of Clematis Groups,95
Chapter Nine Directory of Clematis,101
Appendix 1 Clematis by Groups,399
Appendix 2 Clematis by Flower Colour,403
Appendix 3 Trade and Cultivar Names,406
Appendix 4 Hybridizers and Nurseries Mentioned in the Directory of Clematis,407
Appendix 5 Nursery List,408
Appendix 6 National Clematis Collections and Display Gardens,412
Appendix 7 Useful Addresses,413
Glossary,414
Bibliography,417
Index of Plants,419
5
Foreword
The gardening world has for too long been without a sociated with this prestigious publication,the first-ever
reliable and substantial source of information or defini- encyclopedia of clematis.
tive work on the genus Clematis,particularly the culti- An Illustrated Encyclopedia ofClematisexceeds any ref-
vars.We are fortunate that the authors,the British Cle- erence work that has been previously published on the
matis Society, and Timber Press were able to come subject,both in its coverage of each variety and in the
together to create An Illustrated Encyclopedia ofClematis. comprehensive size of the production.Great care has
Setting out to provide comprehensive coverage of this also been exercised in ensuring faithful colour reproduc-
topic required considerable planning,dedication,and re- tion of the extensive photographs. The book is, of
sources.Mary Toomey,editor of the British Clematis course,a highly specialized work in that it covers only
Society journal,and her enthusiastic and dedicated team one genus.The content,however,is presented in such a
worked tirelessly to produce a work of the highest stan- practical style as to be easily digestible for the keen gar-
dard.Their commitment and skill are reflected in the dener of clematis as well as for the nursery professional
depth and quality of the information contained within or amateur grower.
this publication. Clematis have enjoyed increasing popularity in the
The British Clematis Society was formed in 1991 garden in recent years,and,thanks to the endeavours of
with the principal aims of encouraging,informing,and plant hunters and hybridizers, the selection of plants
promoting the growth and enjoyment ofclematis in the available to gardeners includes a rising number of new
garden.These aims are embodied in the Society’s efforts introductions. About 300 Clematis species have been
to educate gardeners on all aspects of clematis.In the recorded, with more surely still to be discovered, and
decade since the Society was established it has enjoyed a there are hundreds ofcultivars.The process ofdeciding
steady increase in membership,this in parallel with its which plants to include or exclude in this encyclopedia
gaining status in Britain as a registered charity.The So- was a Herculean task.I am confident,however,of the
ciety now promotes a wide-ranging programme of final selection of more than 550 garden-worthy species
events, which are open to the public as well as to its and cultivars. Each description includes information
members,and attends gardening shows and exhibitions about the plant’s origin,parentage,height,habit,and
throughout the United Kingdom. In my capacity as pruning requirements.The authors also offer guidance
chairman,I am delighted that the Society should be as- on the selection of varieties for colour and intended
7
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8 Foreword
planting position,on the impact of potential pests and An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Clematis represents a
diseases,and on all aspects of cultivation and propaga- labour of love for those who were involved in its pro-
tion from seed,cuttings,and layering.Clematis are per- duction.It is an informative summary ofthe species and
haps unique amongst plants,as varieties can be found in cultivars ofthis popular genus and will surely be a source
flower almost every month ofthe year.This trait,which of enjoyment to all who refer to its pages.
may also be a main attraction for the many fervent fans
M B
of clematis,is amplified by commentary on flowering
Chairman
period,preferred aspects,and hardiness zones. British Clematis Society
Preface
The last decade of the twentieth century witnessed not upward-facing tuliplike to the gently nodding ones—
only an unprecedented rise in the popularity ofclematis and it becomes apparent why clematis has been justifi-
as a garden plant,but also a surge in the number of spe- ably crowned as the queen of climbers.
cialist nurseries offering a wide range of cultivars and Clematis are very accommodating garden plants.
species to the more discerning collector and the gardener With their agile vertical and horizontal mobility,they
who wants one,two,or more clematis in the garden.It is create drama,rhythm,and movement in a garden ofany
not uncommon to hear gardeners with a passion for this size or shape.With careful selection there can be a cle-
genus talk about the number of clematis in their collec- matis in bloom for more or less each month of the year.
tions and be on the lookout for more and more choice While most clematis are well known and widely
plants.From the shelves ofsupermarkets to garden cen- grown as climbers,the genus also comprises a number of
tres,from market stalls to annual private garden plant perhaps less familiar shrubby,subshrubby,and herba-
sales,gardeners can pick up a plant or two of even what ceous species and cultivars.They too are beginning to
would have been considered a difficult,rare,or special- make their way into herbaceous and mixed borders of
ist plant when I started gardening with clematis thirty- gardens all over the world.
odd years ago. With the ever-increasing popularity of clematis as
It is not surprising that clematis have become hugely decorative garden plants,hybridizers and nurseries have
popular plants.The genus boasts a staggering range of risen to the challenge and have been busy raising and in-
colour—from Wedgwood blues to bright purples;from troducing more and more large- and small-flowered cul-
matt,shell pinks to satiny,smooth and vibrant reds;from tivars.Also,during the recent past,a great number of
sparkling starry whites to the somewhat gently captivat- books on clematis have become available to inform and
ing creams,culminating in soft,unadulterated waxy yel- educate gardeners about this magical genus;however,
lows. Although there is no black clematis flower, the not a single,comprehensively illustrated work has been
newly opened,juvenile flowers of cultivars such as Cle- published to serve the needs of passionate gardeners
matis‘Black Prince’,‘Niobe’,‘Purple Spider’,and ‘Royal who grow a large number and variety ofclematis.Nurs-
Velours’among others almost border on a deep shade of eries have often articulated the need for such a volume of
black.Add to that astonishing range of colour,the size work.The British Clematis Society was also anxious to
and shape of the flowers—from the smallest to the see this void filled,and is delighted to be associated with
widest,from the bell-shaped to the platelike,from the this publication.
9
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10 Preface
My co-author,a clematis enthusiast and former chair- growing in our gardens for a long time and are tried and
man ofthe British Clematis Society,Everett Leeds,and tested varieties.The newcomers,particularly those from
I make no apologies to the botanists,taxonomists,cle- Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Russia, are enchanting
matis specialists,and horticulturists for this work writ- too—grow them all with confidence.We appreciate that
ten in everyday language to meet the specific needs of not all clematis listed in this book are readily available
gardeners who grow clematis with great love and enthu- everywhere;however,we have appended a list of nurs-
siasm.Simply put,here is a book written by gardeners eries including those which specialize in mail order,na-
with a lifelong interest in clematis,for gardeners with a tionally and internationally.We trust this will assist gar-
passion for these wonderful plants,which have little in deners to acquire their favourite plants.We have also
the way ofcompetition except perhaps for roses,honey- given an overview of the different groups of clematis
suckles,and possibly sweet peas.It is encouraging all the based on the gardener’s classification of clematis out-
same that roses and clematis are splendid companions.I lined in chapter one.There are separate lists ofclematis,
also found,more by accident than by design,that the which belong to the different groups in appendix 1.Ad-
sweet pea Lathyrus‘Painted Lady’and Clematis‘Duchess ditionally,appendix 2 carries information on clematis by
of Albany’proved to be excellent neighbours.It was a colour.Both sets ofinformation we hope will prove use-
lesson in combining colour and creating harmony be- ful to gardeners in choosing a clematis by name or colour
tween these two very different kinds ofplants and flow- and visiting the plant entry in the directory for all the
ers. Similarly, the flower-laden vines of Clematis necessary information.
‘Comtesse de Bouchard’weaving their way into a low- In writing this book our aim was to help and encour-
growing Daphne sericeain flower,and creating a true vi- age you,the gardener,to enjoy selecting and growing
sion ofbeauty in that togetherness,strengthened my be- clematis.It really does not matter how you pronounce
lief in growing clematis with, through, up, and over the word clematis or the name of a cultivar or species.
other suitable garden plants. What is really important is the pleasure you derive from
This long-awaited book is laid out in two main sec- gardening with clematis.We should like,however,to
tions.The first is mainly devoted to the care and culti- issue a caveat emptor:growing and collecting clematis
vation of clematis while the second one deals with an A can easily become a happy and healthy obsession!
to Z ofclematis.The RHS Plant Finder(1999–2000 edi-
M K.T
tion) lists more than 800 Clematisspecies and cultivars,
Editor,The Clematis
but we have restricted our entries to 550 based on their
Journal ofthe British Clematis Society
garden worthiness.Most of these clematis have been May 2000
