Clematis hirsutissima in the Crevice Garden

[Lesley Cox]

I have strong, well-grown plants from seed, at least 12 years old, never had a flower yet.

[Maggi Young]

strong, well-grown plants from seed, at least 12 years old, never had a flower yet.

Ooh, err!       That's a long time for a little-ish plant to take to flower, isn't it?

[Paul T]

Kristl,

Lovely little Clematis.  One I haven't come across before (but will now have to find of course).  I am a bit of a Clematis addict!!    I only have 65+ different Clematis varieties (not counting duplicates) in my little suburban garden!!     Amongst my many other plant addictions of course. 

[mark smyth]

Chris his plants havent flowered yet

[ChrisB]

Thanks Mark.  I suspected so.... I reckon I'll try to get the plant at least, that way I may have a chance of seeing it flower in my lifetime 

[Kristl Walek]

Lesley, et al,
I have heard from others about waiting forever for their C. hirsutissima seedlings to flower---which I find utterly baffling--I have at least a dozen little colonies of them in the crevice garden (as well as the subspecies scottii), none of which ever took more that 4 years to bloom (most the 3rd year).

I always plant them out as tiny first year seedlings---and then ignore them. They often sit for a while in the beginning (working on that root system), and once they reach flowering stage, they bloom almost a full 6 weeks or more late spring to mid summer.

[Maggi Young]

Kristl, expect a seed order from Aberdeen!!

[ChrisB]

Me too, the guy who has it has not replied yet.... maybe he's busy with his snowdrops

[Maggi Young]

I had a very pleasant time looking through Kristl's list today.... perhaps no surprise that the order is for more than just this clematis seed!!    I was quite restrained though how I managed it I don't know!

[Ulla Hansson]

Hello.
And a seed order was sent from Sweden 5 minutes ago.

Ulla 

[Maggi Young]

So, Ulla, we are all of the same mind! Next will be the experiment to see who can get a plant to flower the soonest, after the varying times we have heard. I would have thought that 3- 4 years is correct, but one of us may manage in three.... photos to the Forum, of course!!

[Maggi Young]

And a seed order was sent from Sweden 5 minutes ago.

Looking at the time, this must be what they call "late night shopping" 

[Lesley Cox]

Kristl would you say in what conditions you grow it please. Mine, I have 3, are in large sunny troughs in a general sort of potting mix with sharp drainage. They probably are too dry through most of the year. In the same troughs plants like Erinacea anthyllis and Tropaeolum polyphyllum do well and flower superbly.

[Kristl Walek]

Lesley, from what I have gathered from the long discussions in my Clematis group, and from knowing where the plant grows in the wild; I would suggest that you move it from the trough to somewhere where it will have a DEEP, cool root run and where the roots will never dry. A heavier, richer, clay-based soil. Dry only at the crown, full sun.

Once established, it will start spreading outwards from the crown. The picture I posted in this thread started as a single seedling, but has expanded dramatically over the years---moving outward along one rock crevice where it is rather tightly wedged. But, boy is the plant ever happy!!!!

[Lesley Cox]

I'll try that then. The troughs are quite deep, about 60cms but they do get dehydrated in the summer, mainly because the other things, such as the erinacea, don't ever need to be watered so I don't bother. The clematis plants all have about 8 stems, so they have grown quite well, and each year there SEEMS to be a bud at the top of the stem, quite round and firm but then it gradually opens to be more leaves. I'll move at least one and give it more water. Thanks.