Clematis - Cirrhosa 'Freckles'

About Clematis Cirrhosa 'Freckles':

Clematis cirrhosa var purpurescens 'Freckles'(to give it it's full name) brings a splash of Mediterranean warmth to your garden in winter and early spring, with it's unusual speckled flowers. These early blooms will brighten your garden and attract bees at a sparse time of year.

At its best over an arch or pergola to really show off the speckled interior of the flower and it's lemony scent, this clematis doesn't need pruning, although some trimming will encourage strong new growth. Originating in the Balearic Islands, this climber loves the sun. If you'd like a hardier clematis, take a look at our Clematis collection.

Great for your garden:

Clematis Cirrhosa 'Freckles' will be happiest in alkaline or neutral soil. Being of Mediterranean origin, it will prefer a warm, sunny corner of your garden. This plant will look great along a wall or trellis behind a border, bringing winter and early spring colour to an otherwise quiet time of year in the garden.

The scent and the speckles can be best appreciated when the plant is grown over an arch or pergola, where it will grow up to about 4m high with a spread of around 2m. The leaves are evergreen, with a bronze tint in winter. They are quite delicate, almost fern-like. It won't rampage quite as vigorously as some other Clematis so if you prefer your climbers a bit more manageable, this could be for you. If you need to cut it back, do so just after flowering.

Clematis Cirrhosa 'Freckles' characteristics.

Bell-shaped cream flowers with red-brown speckles on the interior side

Flowers November to February

Scented- citrus-like

Dainty evergreen leaves with a bronze tinge in winter

Height and spread up to 4m x 2m

Half hardy and prefers sun

Pruning Group 1

RHS Award of Garden Merit

Look out for:

Clematis slime flux. Its an uncommon bacterial infection but can be fatal. It happens when the plant has an injury and bacteria infect the wound. Signs include wilting and yellowing of the leaves, as well as the unpleasant slime in the stems where the plant is affected.

Earwigs, aphids, and fungal infections can also affect Clematis

This Clematis does not suffer from Clematis wilt.

Trivia:

Clematis cirrhosa originates in southern Europe and north Africa, hence it's tender nature. It was collected in Mallorca by the then curator of Chelsea Physic Garden, Allen Paterson. The seeds were passed on to the famed clematis grower Raymond Evison, who gave it the nickname 'Freckles' after his daughter Rebecca. The name 'Clematis' is of Greek origin, from the word 'Klema' meaning vine-like.

Images supplied by Clematis on the Web.