THE CLEMATIS are considered (by many) to be the most
attractive of all the vines; and the Pacific Northwest is con-
sidered (by many) to be the best environment for them in

North America.

As the North Shore is consid-
ered (by me) to be the best part of
the Pacific Northwest, this week’s
article shall discuss this plant
known as the Queen of the Vines.

There are approximately 250
species of clematis, most of which
come to us from the Orient. All
but a very few of them are the
deciduous, flowering vines that we
are accustomed to; there is one
evergreen vining variety and a
handful of perennial and/or
shrubby types.

Over and above these species
forms, there are literally thousands
of hybrids available in a wide
range of colors and plant habits.

The evergreen variety is clematis
armandii with white. fragrant
flowers and beautiful. dark green
foliage; somewhat reminiscent ot
the foliage of bamboo. The pink
form, c. a. ‘Appleblossam', is a
very light shell pink and rather dif-
ficult to obtain.

It is slow to start and, as with
most of the viuing clematis, will
sometimes wither immediately
after planting. Do not be alarmed

fading to pink) are the most spec-
tacular spring blooming clematis.
They are extremely profuse, fast
growing and easy to grow; once

over the

garden gate
by Geoff Tobiasson

though; it usually recovers within
six to eight weeks.

Once established, it can produce
20 feet of new growth per year and
will require regular pruning to
keep it healthy and under comrol

Another noteworthy species isc.
fawsontina ‘Henryl which will
produce huge, pure white flowers
with attractive, dark stamens
through =mid-sununer. Pruning
here should take plaice immediately
after flowering.

nS Aronount (white Padiny
fo pink) and oo. cabens (lose

To 1425 Marine Drive
in Burger King Plaza
Visit our new store nex! tat hichers, dole of paring babe: advaribage Gf Huse
super offers. For one wieels only,

ieee 8 « J iichstiiaens fis tat marc AGC Hei SSAC Rt gOS OHO REDE ON

1425

‘Regis

again, prune after flowering.

For a really unusual variety, it is
hard to beat c. tangutica, with its
golden flowers from July to fall.
The attractive seed heads these
flowers produce are an added
bonus. Prune this one hard in fall,
after the foliage has dropped.

As [ mentioned, there are toa
many hybrids to be listed here so t
will mention some of varieties |
consider to be good and not too
difficult to obtain.

In the purple blues it ts duad to
beat atcha: aed ol po CONagies

All our Metal and To
50 Wood Custosn

irames

Mats, Glass, Mounting,

Stretching and

Labour!!

aeesay
‘ on

IC TURES & FEOAMIES

Marine lative Hoth Yaucouver

WA HAGLG

Yhetse Clfies tet. agegely Gt toed Val Vane te be atid

ee ee

19 - Friday, July 10, 1987 - North Shore News

ba’, with their large single flowers,
ce Vyvvan Pennell’ is a striking
double (might be hard to find), ¢.
‘The President’ has an attractive
centre stripe on the petals, and c¢.
‘Ramona’ is 4 lovely lavender blue.

Pink flowering forms would in-
clude ¢. jackmani# ‘Comtesse De
Bouchard’ with ‘is_ silvery pink
hues and c. ‘Hagley Hybrid’ a
clear, light pink as well as the
previously mentioned pink forms
of c. armandii and c. montana.

Some good red flowering
varieties are c. ‘Ernest Markham’,
c. ‘Rouge Cardinal’ and c. ‘Ville
de Lyon", any one of which look
striking with a blue-grey
background.

Suggested whites would be c.
langinosa ‘Candida’, with eight-
inch flowers and yellow stamens,
c. ‘Mme. Le Coultre’, considered
to be the best for this area, as well
as the previously mentioned
varieties.

Bi-colors,

such as oc. ‘Nelly

t

50% OFE

Mosier’, light) rose-lilac with a
crimson stripe or the newer c. ‘Dr.
Rupple’ with its darker, richer
color have been among the most
popular summer bloomers for
many years.

Plant clematis in deep, rich,
well-drained soil; keep the roots
shaded and the top growth in six
or more hours of sunlight. Add
small amounts of dolomitic lime-
stone and bone meal when planting
and repeat every fall.

Do not allow the plants to
become dry and feed monthly with
a water-soluble fertilizer while they
are actively growing.

These vines climb as the leaf
stalks twist around and grab hold
of trellises, wire supports, host
plants, etc. and will not free climb
sheer walls and the like. Give sup-
port to the vines immediately and
protect them from the unfriendly
advances of tawnmowers,
weedeaters and inquisitive
children.

ALL.

LABOUR ON...

o Niapetia ® olf teentea

» ricedpabuadalecy

© ctsidisleae Me baste beapateceat bes

cb etobeain Lesaili dresethioese

MEE CURE 1 AL TT :
OS RGM prelera thee cet agg