I'm getting ready to plant one of these and I want to make sure to locate it where it will be happy. I've done some research and everything I've read suggests it likes "wet bottomlands". Wondering if any clematis experts can give me advice? Also, I know it's a native of Alabama and Georgia but I'm unable to find a zone hardiness for it?
Clematis socialis - Alabama Leather Flower??
Rcn..You might want to post over at Gardenweb in the clematis forum for Miquel has this one growing in his gardens in Kernersville NC
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/clematis/
It is a species clematis and native to Alabama..while I have no experience in growing this one..I venture to say it is a pruning group 3 and I don't know of any clematis that can survive in a boggy wet environment..they like to have their roots stay moist but can rot if sitting in water..hope this helps hon..tell Miquel Jeanne in Texas says hello!!...Jeanne
probably hardy to zone 5, but probably with a capital p as in maybe not.
where did you get this leatherflower clematis? sounds interesting
CG, my Texenesis is classified as 'Leather Flower' I've got mine from the local Botanical plants sale. 'Jeanne Brannon' was the assigned name for mine. So donot plant it in a moist shady area?
could be confusion between viorna and texenis. i do not know much about species viorna..i have one in from last year and it is not awake yet. i thought viorna as known as leatherflower....will have to read a bit and refresh my memory on the difference. while texensis clems are tulip shaped, the viorna is a smaller pitcher shaped flower.
but all texensis are prone to powdery mildew and like full sun.
not sure re viorna and can claim no expertise as the i put in last fall is not up yet!
Carol is an avid Viorna collector and created a wonderful website aka "American Bells" ...that I thought you might enjoy...Jeanne
http://clematisviorna.info/clematis_viorna.html
they are referred to as Leather-Flowers
This message was edited Apr 22, 2009 11:37 AM
JeanneTX, that's a cool website. It needs to be in our soon-to-be Sticky post on the Clematis forum. Thank you for sharing that link.
great link, thanks jeanne. i have crispa, which is up and growing and, as mentioned before, species viorna which i a hoping will wake up any minute now.
yall are so welcomed...the only one I have is my State Texensis which I got in a trade!!..Jeanne
http://clematisviorna.info/clematis_texensis.html
i try and grow as many species clems as i can. i have a LOT of different species. some do not appreciate their different beauty, and they take up a lot of space, but i like having the beginnings represented in the gardens, not just the cultivars.
Jeanne, thank you! Miguel answered my post and although I still don't have a definite hardiness for the plant he thought it "might" be hardy to Zone 6 :) He suggested I contact Dan at Brushwood since he grows it - now why didn't I think of that? LOL I got the plant from Dan last weekend - it was a raffle item at American Hort Society's plant sale last weekend!
Dan is a "conniseur" of clematis and will gladly aid in anyway he can..I believe Miquel is growing his in a pot...and am not quite sure why? Glad to have been of any help...Miquel is a sweetheart and very knowledgeable with species clematis as he mainly grows the pruning group 3's...Jeanne