By Pat Shepperdson
Colorado Master Gardener
Clematis, a reliable garden favorite, is known as the “queen of climbers.” It adds height and color to fences, trellises and arbors without taking up valuable ground space, and its abundant, vibrant blooms attract beneficial insects such as bees and butterflies.
Nearly 380 species of Clematis have been identified. Most are Asian hybrids and cultivars; however, native plant enthusiasts will be pleased to know that five are native to Colorado. Flora of Colorado lists the following as Colorado natives:
The similar Rock Clematis (clematis columbiana) and Western Blue Virgin’s Bower (clematis grosseserrata) can be used as accents, or covers for hillsides or rock gardens. These trailing or climbing, semi-woody vines grow up to 5 feet with deciduous foliage. They need a trellis, shrub or a tree trunk or can be grown across boulders to create a rambling groundcover. Blooming May-July, the flowers have four thin, drooping tepals, slightly reflexed at the tips. They are light blue, lavender or violet (rarely white) on a leafless stem and numerous stamens. Flowers are followed by a silvery plume-like cluster of long fluffy plumes called achenes for wind distribution.
Sugarbowls (clematis hirsutissima) can be a climbing or trailing vine or an erect shrub, somewhat woody with several stems in a dense clump 16-20 inches high. Flowers bloom late spring and are nodding, bell-shaped with four, thick, dark purple petal-like sepals called tepals curved back at the tips with numerous stamens. Hairs covering the flower give the plant a sugar-dusted look.
Scott’s Clematis (clematis scottii) is a non-vining bush clematis growing in an upright clump 12 inches tall and 18 inches wide, working well in a raised bed or rock garden. The sprawling stems continue to elongate, producing new flower stalks as they go. Nodding turban-shaped blue flowers bloom in the late spring and early summer.
Western White Virgin’s-Bower (clematis ligusticifolia) attracts birds, hummingbirds, butterflies and bees and is a larval host for up to eight butterflies. It also provides a nesting habitat for finches, doves, wrens and songbirds. It is an adaptable, tough and disease-resistant climbing vine (up to 20 feet), somewhat woody at the base with flowers 1 inch wide, with four to five tepals, that blooms July-September. The male and female parts are on separate plants (Dioecious).
Clematis require well-draining, loamy, sandy or amended clay soils. In their native habitat they are found in sunny patches of the understory, so they do well in similar light conditions. They do well in sun to light shade with low to moderate water, depending on the species.
Submit gardening questions to [email protected] or call 719-520-7684. The in-person help desk is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Visit elpaso.extension.colostate.edu and register for upcoming classes at epcextension.eventbrite.com.
Clematis occidentalis. Photo by Allisa Zurbuchen, Colorado Master Gardener
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