Clematis 'Niobe'
Virgin's bower
- Height × spread
- 2.2m × 2m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Very cold to -20C (RHS H6)
- Flowers
- Summer, Autumn
Availability
Generally available in Spring
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This early large-flowered variety has rich, dark, ruby red flowers with golden stamened centres. As a rule, it flowers from midsummer well into autumn. It reaches a height of around 2.2m (7ft) and is suited to container culture. Select a sunny position for best results. This is a good colour to combine with variegated plants. Raymond J. Evison suggests trailing it through a variegated dogwood, where the red of the dogwood stems will link to the rich red of the clematis flower. If you intend to grow it in such a way, it might be advisable to hard prune the clematis to give the dogwood its day, taking the clematis back to ground level in autumn and giving it a good mulch for encouragement.
- Flower colour
- Red
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Fan
- Height
- 2.2m
- Spread
- 2m
- Season of interest
- Summer, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Cottage garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, tolerates part shade, tolerates light shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Gravelly soil, Loam (normal), Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Damp and wet soil, Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Very cold to -20C (RHS H6)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Use for
- Wall cover, Deer resistant, Rabbit resistant, Bee attraction
- Walls
- South, West facing
- Deer
- May be damaged by deer so some protection when small
- Hazards
- Yes, potentially harmful; Humans: Skin irritant
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water to keep the soil moist
For best results, this plant needs soil that is always moist. Water deeply and regularly as soon as soil appears dry. Even for established plants in the ground, a dry week can cause problems with some soils. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather. Or install an automatic irrigation system which will do the hard work for you, even when you are away on holiday.
Without regular watering some plants never fully regain their beauty.
Spring - early · Planting
Prune Clematis Group 2 - prune to a framework
Early to mid-season Clematis (Group 2) tie onto supports, shorten long shoots, pinch out tips and tie in. Remove dead, diseased, damaged growth. When mature (after 2 years) take out any weak growth to the ground and cut shoots back by a third to buds.
Summer
Summer-Autumn · Planting
Support young plants
Provide support for young plants, and tie in any growth to the support to keep it tidy.
Winter
Winter - late · Outdoors
Apply an organic mulch
Apply an organic mulch to the plant taking care not to bury its stem or cover any young growth that emerges from its centre.
A mulch is a covering that can: protect the soil surface from rain, heat and cold; deter weeds; provide nutrients. Organic indicates that material has vegetative origin e.g. manure, compost. Synthetics i.e. plastics, or stones are often called mulches.
Found in
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