Grape-leaved clematis

Synonyms: клематис белый, ломонос виноградолистный, Anemone vitalba (L.) K.Krause, Clematis bannatica Schur, Clematis bellojocensis Gand., Clematis crenata Jord., Clematis dumosa Salisb., Clematis dumosa Gand., Clematis odontophylla Gand., Clematis pilosa Dulac, Clematis scandens Borkh., Clematis sepium Lam., Clematis taurica Besser ex Nyman, Clematis transiens Gand., Clematis transiens Gand., Clematis vitalba var. angustisecta Gremli, Clematis vitalba var. bannatica Wierzb. ex Rchb., Clematis vitalba var. cordata Schur, Clematis vitalba var. integra DC., Clematis vitalba var. simplicifolia Godet, Clematis vitalba var. syriaca Boiss., Clematis vitalba var. timbali Drabble, Clematitis vitalba (L.) Moench, Viorna clematitis Garsault (not used), traveler's-joy, old-man's-beard, evergreen clematis, Лозинка обыкновенная, Клематис жизненный, Клематис обыкновеный

Clematis vitalba (Clematis vitalba L.) – a species of perennial woody plants of the genus Clematis (Clematis) in the buttercup family. The type species of the genus Clematis. It was named and first studied by the famous Swedish biologist and writer who is considered the father of modern scientific classification of living organisms, Carl Linnaeus, in 1753. It was first introduced into cultivation in New Zealand in 1922 and naturalized by 1935.

In nature it grows in North Africa (Algeria), throughout almost all of Europe, in the Caucasus, and in the Near and Far East. Naturalized in Australia and North America. It grows in forests, shrub thickets, forest edges and on stony mountain slopes. It rises in the mountains up to 1200 m above sea level.

It is a semi-shrubby climber that ascends supports to a height of 5-12 (30) m. Grows quickly. Stems are strongly ribbed, climbing, perennial. It clings to supports using long leaf petioles that twine. Bark is fissured, gray-brown, furrowed. Young shoots are greenish-brown, hexagonal.

Root system superficial, fleshy, sparsely branched, with thin roots.

Leaves odd-pinnate, 10-25 cm long, compound, opposite, with 5 (3) leaflets, on long (4-7 cm) petioles. Leaflets 2.5-10 cm long, ovate or lanceolate, acute, apex drawn out and triangular, base cordate or rounded, coarsely toothed, rarely 2-3-lobed, more often nearly entire. Leaf blade leathery, dark green, pubescent, less often glabrous, light green.

Flowers numerous, bisexual, 1-2 cm in diameter, whitish with a greenish tint or white, with a slight pleasant almond fragrance, slightly nodding, gathered in axillary or terminal paniculate inflorescences, borne on erect peduncles up to 10 cm long. Perianth star-shaped. Perianth segments about 4, they are oblong, obtuse, up to 4 cm long, shortly pubescent with white hairs. Sepals oblong, broad, not reflexed, obtuse, small, up to 10 mm long, densely white-pubescent outside. Stamens about 50. Filaments glabrous; staminodia absent; pistils 20 or more. Blooms abundantly on shoots of the current year, July-September.

Fruits – achenes up to 7 mm long and 4 mm wide, margin thickened, beak feather-hairy up to 4 cm long, gathered in hairy heads. Appear in late September – October and remain on the shrubs for a long time. Flowers and fruits from 4 years of age.

The plant is poisonous.

Varieties:

• Clematis ligusticifolia var. californica S.Wats.
• Clematis ligusticifolia var. brevifolia Nutt.
• Clematis ligusticifolia var. ligusticifolia

Hardiness zone: 5 (-29°C)

Location: prefers partial light, needs a site protected from strong and cold winds. Prefers nutrient-rich and moderately moist slightly acidic or alkaline soil, fertile loams, well-drained. In the temperate zone it is recommended to plant in sunny or slightly shaded locations. In southern regions it may suffer from overheating, so it can be planted in shade. In urban conditions tolerates dust and smoke.

Planting: Planting hole size - 60x60x60 cm. Soil mix – mix the topsoil with 2-3 buckets of compost or humus, 1 bucket of peat, 1 bucket of sand, 100-150 g superphosphate, 200 g complete mineral fertilizer, preferably 100 g bone meal, 150-200 g lime or chalk, 200 g ash. When planting in light soils it is recommended to add more peat. If the soil is wet, clayey or dense, it is necessary to add a 10-15 cm layer of crushed stone for drainage. In southern regions planting is carried out in late September – early October, in the temperate zone – in September, in northern areas – in spring (late April or early May) or early autumn. In containers it can be planted throughout the growing season. For group plantings the distance between plants should be at least 1 m. For autumn planting the planting material should have developed vegetative buds, for spring planting - at least one shoot. Seedlings should have at least 3 roots longer than 10 cm.

Care: early in spring clematis can be watered with lime milk (200 g lime per 10 l of water per sq.m). In dry hot periods water the plant infrequently but abundantly, avoiding directing the stream into the center of the bush. Feed clematis at least four times per season after watering with a complete mineral fertilizer with microelements at a rate of 20-40 g per 10 l of water or with diluted fermented cow manure (1:10). Alternate mineral and organic feeds. In summer water the plants once a month with a weak solution of boric acid (1-2 g) and potassium permanganate (2-3 g per 10 l of water), and also spray the bushes with urea (0.5 tablespoon per 10 l of water). In spring after feeding and watering it is recommended to mulch the soil with peat or humus (northern regions) and sawdust (southern regions). To prevent overheating, annuals can be planted near clematis.

Pruning: requires formative pruning in autumn and spring.

Propagation: mainly propagated by seeds, green and woody cuttings, division of the bush. Can also be propagated by layering. Seeds are sown in April-May. Before sowing a two-stage stratification lasting 3-3.5 months is necessary: first in warmth (at 15-16°C), then in the refrigerator (temperature +5°C). Seeds germinate in 1-9 months in a greenhouse at 20°C. When seedlings appear they can be transplanted into individual pots and grown in a cold greenhouse for the first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer. Cuttings are taken from the end of July until the end of August. Cuttings root well when treated with Kornevin.

Diseases: gray rot, powdery mildew, rust, wilt.

Pests: nematodes, spider mite, beet aphid, scale insects, bugs, slugs and snails, rodents (field mouse, brown rat).

Companion plants: pairs well with rambling roses

Uses: in the temperate zone used as a ground-cover plant on sunny and dry slopes. Is a good indicator of the presence of nitrogen and microorganisms in the soil. Can also be used for vertical greening of the west and east sides of buildings, structures or fences.