Clematis for cut flowers

Clematis make excellent fresh cut flowers. Arranged in a vase or floating in a bowl of water, they will bring beauty into every apartment.

Clematis 'Marie Boisselot' ('Mevrouw le Coultre')

Their rich hues blend harmoniously, a sophisticated shape and delicately winding stems inspire charming compositions. In order to prolong the life of cut clematis, you should prepare them carefully. Select thick, woody stems with new blossoms (ideally if blooms are opened in around 70%). All leaves, or at least most of them should be removed from stems to reduce transpiration. Immerse whole shoots, together with flowers, in cold water (e.g. by putting them in a large bowl or a pot) for 10-12 hours, and subsequently put them to the vase. Depending on a variety and outer conditions flowers should last for 3-14 days. Best suited varieties for cutting include :

• white:
  Clematis 'Duchess of Edinburgh',
  Clematis 'Isago',
  Clematis 'John Huxtable',
  Clematis 'Marie Boisselot' ('Mevrouw le Coultre'),
  Clematis 'Toki',
  Clematis 'Snow Queen';

• pale blue:
  Clematis 'Generał Sikorski',
  Clematis 'H.F. Young',
  Clematis 'Lasurstern',
  Clematis 'Mrs. Cholmondeley',
  Clematis 'Vyvyan Pennnell',
  Clematis 'William Kennet';

• deep blue and purple:
  Clematis 'Daniel Deronda',
  Clematis 'Julka',
  Clematis 'Monte Cassino',
  Clematis 'The President',
  Clematis 'Warszawska Nike',
  Clematis 'Xerxes';

• pink:
  Clematis 'Barbara',
  Clematis 'Caroline',
  Clematis 'Carnaby',
  Clematis 'Comtesse de Bouchaud',
  Clematis 'Dr Ruppel',
  Clematis 'Hagley Hybrid',
  Clematis 'Hania',
  Clematis 'Nelly Moser',
  Clematis 'Piilu';

• red:
  Clematis 'Kardynał Wyszyński',
  Clematis 'Niobe',
  Clematis 'Ville de Lyon',
  Clematis 'Westerplatte'.

Besides flowers, clematis produce attractive silky

Clematis 'Kacper' - seedheads

seedheads which form ideal components of dried arrangements, and are perfect for cutting and drying out. The following varieties are among those with the most decorative seedheads:

• large-flowered:
  Clematis 'Asao',
  Clematis 'Capitan Thuilleaux',
  Clematis 'Kacper',
  Clematis 'Lasurtern',
  Clematis 'Mrs. Cholmondeley',
  Clematis 'Nelly Moser',
  Clematis 'The President',
  Clematis 'Vyvyan Pennell';
• botanical:
  Clematis Atragene Group 'Blue Bird',
  Clematis Atragene Group 'Cecile',
  Clematis Atragene Group 'Frances Rivis',
  Clematis Atragene Group 'Markham's Pink',
  Clematis Atragene Group 'Pamela Jackman',
  Clematis Atragene Group 'Pink Flamingo',
  Clematis Atragene Group 'Ruby',
  Clematis Atragene Group 'White Swan',
  Clematis Atragene Group 'Willy',
  Clematis sibirica Atragene Group ,
  Clematis Tangutica Group 'Aureolin',
  Clematis Tangutica Group 'Bill MacKenzie',
  Clematis Tangutica Group 'Lambton Park'.
• herbaceus:
  Clematis integrifolia 'Alba' Integrifolia Group,
  Clematis Integrifolia Group 'Rosea'.
  

see also: • articles about vines (including Clematis) • care and culture of Clematis • encyclopaedia • forum on clematis care and culture • forum on garden vines care and culture • advanced search • articles about vines (including Clematis) • encyclopaedia