Clematis in Siberia: planting and care

Clematis is an incredibly beautiful and popular plant, but for some reason, many gardeners living in the northern regions believe that nature has denied them the opportunity to grow this wonderful flower. Fortunately, this is a common misconception, and even if you live in northern Siberia, clematis may well take root in your garden. The main thing is to choose the right variety and ways of caring for the plant. After all, it is not for nothing that breeding has evolved, creating hundreds of new cold-resistant varieties every year. In this article, we will consider the best winter-hardy clematis varieties of all existing ones and figure out how to ensure a carefree and successful existence for the shrub.

Taxonomy of clematis

At the moment, breeders know a huge number of types of clematis: not tens, but hundreds. Well, there is no need to talk about the number of varieties that have been bred over the past decades. The bill goes into the thousands. And, of course, in all this endless variety, you need to somehow navigate. For this, many different ways have been invented to systematize all types and varieties of clematis. Some of these methods are only of interest to botanists and breeders, however, if you want to choose the right variety for yourself and understand what the seller tells you, you will have to familiarize yourself with the classification of clematis by flower size.

This method of classifying clematis was proposed in 2001 and is widely used to this day. As already mentioned, it was based on the size of flowers of certain species and varieties, which, respectively, are divided into large-flowered and small-flowered. The boundaries, of course, differ in different sources, however, most often a honeycomb with a flower size of 1.5 to 14 centimeters is considered a small-flowered clematis. While large-flowered clematis have a flower size of 14 centimeters and more.

However, the choice of large-flowered or small-flowered clematis is not so fundamental to us, because in the conditions of harsh winters, both the first and the second successfully grow and develop.

Important!

If someone convinces you that clematis with large or small flowers are not able to adapt to Siberian conditions, ignore such advice. The only thing that really affects the survival rate is the selected variety.

However, in order to choose this very variety, it is necessary to figure out what exactly its characteristics allow this or that type of clematis to survive in the harsh conditions of cold and frost. It turns out that the key factor that is most important when choosing winter-hardy clematis is the time of their flowering, on which the time of their further cutting depends. In addition, the flowering method is also important.

Clematis trimming groups

Depending on how and at what time clematis blooms, its pruning group is determined.At the moment, when we are trying to figure out which clematis are best suited for Siberia, we are interested in those varieties in which flowers appear most intensively on the shoots of the current year. This means that shoots appear immediately after winter and they need some time to develop and only after that flowers will appear on them. Most often, flowering begins in June-July, and even in September. This type of flowering gives the variety a third pruning group, because such shoots are completely removed before winter. Yes, such clematis will bloom, perhaps not so long, but this is much better than their complete absence in your garden.

Since most of the shoots are almost completely cut off before winter, the plant is much easier to cover: only the root zone of the plant is subject to this, which, with good protection, can withstand even in frost up to 40 degrees below zero. It is the varieties characterized by the third pruning group that interest us most, and they are the ones you should pay attention to when choosing the best winter-hardy variety for your garden.

The second pruning group is characterized by fairly early flowering. The first flowers begin to appear in June or even May. Most often they grow on last year's shoots, but this does not mean that young shoots do not give flowers at all. They do it, but, unfortunately, a little later (approximately two to three weeks). Therefore, as you might guess, trimming these clematis, like the previous group, is not the best idea. The maximum you can count on is shortening the shoot by a full third, but even that is quite a lot. As a result, it will not be possible to cover only the root zone and will have to resort to methods of covering for the winter, which turn out to be far from so effective, especially in the conditions of harsh Siberian winters.

Nevertheless, many gardeners decided to make a rather obvious compromise: since the shoots of the current year still give flowers, a path and a little later, why not cut the clematis of the second pruning group in the same way as the clematis of the third group. Yes, it is possible that the flowering will not be so lush and there will not be so many flowers, but often the flowers of the varieties of the second pruning group have exceptional external qualities that the third group simply cannot boast of. So, if you decide on this risky move, you will not regret it. Below in this article we will offer you the most popular varieties belonging to this group.

The first group includes clematis, which do not bloom at all on the shoots of the current year. Flowers appear exclusively on those that are more than one year old. This group is the worst suited for cultivation in Siberia, since the clematis varieties belonging to it are most often not cut off at all for the deputy, and, therefore, it will be extremely difficult to cover them. Naturally, most varieties, especially without shelter, will not withstand the Siberian cold.

However, most are not all, which means there are several varieties that can cope with blizzards and frost without even having protection. However, they have a significant disadvantage: almost all of them are wild-growing, and therefore their flowers are far from being as beautiful as those of the third and, especially, the second group.

However, in addition to the timing of flowering and pruning, the gardener may also be interested in another factor in the classification of clematis, and this is the length of his shoots. According to this characteristic, all varieties of clematis are divided into two groups:

Shrub clematis, the length of the shoots of which does not exceed two meters.

Curly clematis, which can stretch their shoots up to four meters and even more (in exceptional cases)

If you still want to grow varieties of the first group, you will have to choose the most suitable planting site for them. The fact is that by planting them on the street, you are most likely to find them for death.Instead, it would be much more expedient to plant such varieties on the balcony or, in extreme cases, on the terrace, where they will be warmed to some extent by the warmth of your home. If your choice fell on clematis of the second or third pruning group, they can even decorate a gazebo or an empty wall of a house if their height does not exceed three meters.

Now that you know everything about which varieties are best suited for growing in Siberia, and how to figure out which one to choose, you can go directly to the description of the varieties. Many gardeners want their garden to be decorated with the most diverse and colorful plants, and therefore all characteristics, from growth to the shade of flowers, will be indicated in the description of the varieties.

The most winter-hardy varieties of clematis: description

Many professional gardeners believe that they are among the best varieties that exist at the moment, which were created back in the days of the USSR. However, they are not mistaken: these varieties are really very good and worthy of purchase and placement in your garden, and therefore it will be advisable to start our review with them.

In order to make it easier for you to understand the list below, we will first list all the varieties you are interested in belonging to the third pruning group, and after we have finished with them, we will analyze the rest of the varieties, but separately.

Domestic varieties of clematis

It is not hard to guess that the most popular and well-known among gardeners are those varieties that provide the best results: tall, powerful bushes and beautiful, large flowers.

Cosmic melody

This variety was first bred in 1950. It was discovered by breeders from the Crimea. This variety belongs to the Zhakman group, and its distinctive feature is that it blooms very profusely, and in a season just one shoot can provide up to thirty flowers, and they will bloom and delight the eye all summer. In one bush, there will most often be about 15-30 shoots, which in total will give a huge number of beautiful velvet purple flowers that will be an excellent decoration for your garden. This variety grows up to four meters in height. By the end of flowering, the bright shade of the flower will weaken somewhat, but this will not prevent you from enjoying them.

Luther Burbank

This variety without a twinge of conscience can be attributed to the most popular varieties of clematis, among which it will not take the last place. It was bred back in 1962, and the very first American clematis breeder gave him his name. The variety also belongs to bindweed clematis, and the height that it can potentially reach is up to five meters. The flowers can be up to twenty centimeters in diameter, and they themselves have a stunning purple hue and white pubescence, giving the flowers an elegance. In total, there can be up to 12 of them on one shoot, and at moderate temperatures the shade becomes much brighter and more saturated.

Blue flame

Since 1961, this variety has been happily grown by gardeners throughout immense Russia, since it can adapt to almost any conditions. Up to ten shoots can gather in one bush, each of which easily reaches four meters in length. The flowers have very wide, blue-purple petals. On one shoot, you can count up to fifteen pieces.

Lilac star

This variety belongs to one of the earliest flowering clematis of the third group. The first bloom can occur in June and even in May. The main advantage of the flowers of this variety, in addition to their stunning lilac color, is that over time, the flowers do not fade or lose any of their qualities.

Gray bird

This variety does not have such long shoots as the previous ones, and belongs to the shrub type. On average, its shoots reach a length of 2 meters, but they can grow up to 2.5.In one bush, however, these shoots can be up to seventy. And these shoots bloom incredibly luxuriantly and abundantly. As many as thirty flowers can grow on one shoot, each of which is small (rarely more than 10 centimeters in diameter) and a very attractive blue tint. Such clematis are incredibly easy to propagate, especially by cuttings, and it is also adapted for growing anywhere in Russia.

Nikolay Rubtsov

The variety, which was discovered back in 1967, and is no less popular than the previous ones, was named after the botanist and breeder N.I. Rubtsov who discovered it. This variety forms a decent number of shoots: up to twenty-five in just one bush. However, the highlight of this variety is the flowers themselves. They are found in the amount of 10-15 pieces on each shoot and have a very rich violet-red hue, which really catches the eye. However, this color fades significantly in the sun, so carefully choose a place for planting.

Anastasia Anisimova

This variety, like most of the previous ones, was discovered in the sixties of the previous century, and it was named after a researcher at the botanical university who discovered it. This clematis variety belongs to the shrub type and has shoots up to 2.5 meters long. On average, each bush contains up to twenty such shoots. The flowers are medium in size (10-12 centimeters), and their shade can be described as smoky blue. Although the flowering of this variety is not too abundant, however, with its beauty it will delight you for a very long time. Flowering begins in June, and can last right up to cold weather.

Texa

This variety also belongs to the shrub type and does not have very long shoots. On average, they reach 1.5 meters in length, but there are also specimens 2 meters long. The color of this variety delights many with its uniqueness: dark purple dots are formed on a smoky blue background. The flowering of the variety is also quite long: it begins in the middle of summer, and ends only with the onset of the first frosts.

Foreign varieties

Most often, foreign varieties offer the gardener large-flowered, but, nevertheless, very cold-resistant clematis, a distinctive feature of which is their incredible riot of colors.

Blue Angel

This variety clematis was bred in Poland. It has an average vigor, and the length of its shoots rarely exceeds 3 meters. The flowers have a rather unusual shape: a wave forms along the edges of the petals, and they themselves have a pleasant light blue tint. The first bloom begins in July. The best places to grow this variety are a balcony or a specially designed container.

Hagley Hybrid

This variety most of all attracts attention for its incredible beauty, which many other types of clematis cannot boast of. Its petals have a bright pink color, which is also mixed with purple and purple notes. This variety blooms all summer, but it has one rather significant drawback: it is very vulnerable to many fungal diseases, and therefore it requires exceptional care and supervision. This variety forms a lot of shoots, and their average length is 2.5 meters.

Koduehe

This variety is also distinguished by its beauty, which attracts most gardeners. The name of this stunning flower is translated from Estonian as home decoration. Its petals are painted in a bright and rich pink color, and in the middle of each of them there is an equally bright purple stripe. This variety does not bloom for very long: from July to October, however, the flowering will be very abundant and bright.

Lituanica

This variety was bred in Lithuania in 1987, and the plane gave it its name. The variety belongs to the shrub type, and its shoots reach a non-impressive 1.2-1.5 meters.The color of this variety is rather unusual: the petals are white, and in the middle of each of them there is a bright pink line. On average, the size of flowers reaches 15 centimeters, and the duration of flowering is limited to one and a half months: from mid-June to the end of the summer season.

Niobe

This clematis variety was bred in 1975 in Poland and is recognized by many as the clematis variety with the most intense burgundy hue. In addition to color, the flowers of this variety are distinguished by their impressive size. They usually grow up to 20 centimeters in diameter. The flowering period, however, like the previous variety, is not very long - from July to September.

Gypsy Queen

This variety is recognized by many professional gardeners and breeders as one of the best among the abundant flowering varieties. Its flowers have an incredibly rich and beautiful purple hue, which practically does not change during flowering, unless, of course, clematis is directly exposed to sunlight. The shoots are quite large: they reach up to 3.5 meters in length, and their number in one bush can be more than 15 pieces.

Rouge cardinal

This variety is preferred by many gardeners: both beginners and professionals. The reason for this choice is the incredible beauty of its flowers. They have perhaps the most intense and vibrant pink shade you will ever see. In addition, this variety is particularly resistant to low temperatures.

Ville de Lyon

This clematis variety has been discovered incredibly long ago: since 1899, and throughout this time it continues to enjoy incredible demand and popularity, especially among gardeners whose possessions are located in the north. And not in vain, because it is incredibly beautiful, mesmerizing and, no less important, cold-resistant. Many of our gardeners even consider it to be the best existing foreign clematis variety. Its bushes form up to 15 shoots, each of which is at least 3.5 meters long, and its flowers are quite large, and their minimum size is 15 centimeters in diameter. However, of course, most of all, the purchase of this clematis variety is attracted by its stunning colors: the petals, like many other varieties, are two-colored, but they themselves have a very regular and beautiful shape. However, no matter how beautifully colored this variety has, its flowers will still fade in the sun, which, however, is easy to avoid. An equally important advantage of this variety is that it blooms throughout almost the entire summer. However, it must be handled very carefully, because it is slightly more susceptible to fungal diseases than other varieties.

Victoria

The variety, beloved by a huge number of gardeners, first appeared already in 1870, and it does not slow down to this day. The peculiarity of this variety is its exceptional vigor of growth, because its shoots reach 4 meters in length and even more. Moreover, in each bush at least twenty shoots are formed, each of which will delight you with a large number of beautiful lilac flowers. The petals of this variety are very wide, which is why the shape of the flowers is very similar to an umbrella. Victoria blooms very abundantly, however, unfortunately, not very much. On average, its flowering period is only two months at the junction of summer and autumn.

Purple Captivity Elegance

This variety of clematis (according to modern ideas) is quite small-flowered. However, it is popular and known precisely for its unusual flowers, which are rarely found among clematis of any kind. There are much more petals on them than usual, and the inflorescence is in the shape of a basket. Their diameter is rarely more than 7 centimeters, but their small size is compensated by the huge splendor of flowering: at least a hundred flowers are formed on one shoot, as a rule. Their color is no less mesmerizing than their abundance: it is red-purple and very rich. However, the dignity of this variety of clematis does not end there.In addition, it has an extremely long flowering period, which includes not only the entire summer period, but also September. So, it is simply impossible to resist this variety.

Note!

Although small-flowered varieties rarely adapt to survival in the harsh conditions of Siberia, among them there are also a considerable number of cold-resistant varieties that will delight the gardener with an impressive abundance of their flowering.

Among them, the following varieties can be noted:

Cloud (dark purple)
Huldin (white)
Satellite (hazy blue)
Blue rain (blue)
Alyonushka (deep pink)
Riddle (purple)
Carmencita (red-purple)

Their important feature is that they all belong to the third pruning group, which means that they can be painlessly pruned at the root just before winter, and they will still produce wonderful flowers next year.

Transitional varieties 2/3 of the trim group

This unusual group, which, by the way, is not official, includes those plants that in fact belong to the second pruning group, but they can be pruned in the same way as clematis of the third group.

Ernst Macham

This variety is very popular and has incredibly good winter hardiness. However, of course, it is not this that attracts gardeners in it, but its stunning rich pink color, which certainly will not leave any visitor to your garden indifferent. The flowers of this variety are medium in size - up to 12 centimeters in diameter, and the flowering period lasts from July until the very first frost.

Ball of flowers

The name of this variety is quite simple to interpret: it blooms very profusely, almost completely clinging to the shoots with flowers, which, by the way, are far from small: up to 20 centimeters in diameter. Moreover, the flowering of this variety is two-stage: first, the shoots of the previous year bloom, and then the current one, which significantly prolongs the period. It begins in May, but ends in the middle of autumn. The shade of the flowers can be described as lilac blue with a purple stripe in the middle. This variety was produced in Russia in 1972.

John Paul II

The flowers of this variety, in comparison with many others, look very delicate. Their color is not striking in rich and bright shades, but soothes them with its creamy pink beauty. The variety was named in honor of no less pure than himself, a man - the Pope in 1980. As the flowers bloom, they fade a little, however, given their original shade, this effect is not too noticeable.

Blue light

Bred in Holland, this variety is incredibly beautiful, for which it is very loved not only by local gardeners, but also by flower connoisseurs all over the world. Its flowers grow both on the shoots of the previous and the current year, which, however, is typical for all clematis 2/3 of the pruning group. However, this variety differs in that both on old and new shoots, double flowers are formed, which, by the way, is a rare curiosity, which not least attracts attention to the variety. Flowers, as the name suggests, have a blue hue and are very fond of direct sunlight.

Multiblue

It is also a terry variety, bred in the flower abode in Holland. The flowers of this variety are incredibly large, and their color can change depending on external conditions. The range starts with purple and ends in bright purple.

Natural varieties of clematis

So we got to the end of our list. There are two non-varietal natural clematis species, which, however, are also perfectly adapted to survive in the harsh Siberia.

Tangut

This variety of clematis many breeders call it the most beautiful and decorative of all those that grow in the wild. For the first time in the estates of gardeners, this variety appeared in 1890.Its peculiarity is that it is versatile and adapts to environmental conditions, which means that it can be grown not only as a shrub, whose height does not exceed one and a half meters, but also as a liana, reaching up to four meters in length. This variety blooms especially abundantly, incomparable with any other clematis from this list: up to 120 flowers are formed on one shoot. Moreover, they take on an unusual yellow color for clematis. Their shape is also unusual: flowers hang from the shoot, like lanterns, the size of which does not exceed 5 centimeters. Flowering, which is important to note, is very long: on average, the bush blooms from June and right up to the first frost. In addition, the variety is very good for propagation.

Direct (S. recta)

Clematis of this variety differs in that it looks more like an ordinary upright shrub than a liana. In addition, its shoots are very small: they do not even reach two meters in length. The flowers of this variety are very small, however, as in the case of the previous variety, there are a lot of them. The shade of the flowers is white, but they do not bloom immediately. If the first flower blooms in June, then the last is most likely in July. This ensures long-term flowering of clematis.

Planting and caring for clematis in Siberia

In fact, it is difficult to single out the factors that would distinguish planting and caring for clematis in Siberia from similar procedures in any other region. As you probably already understood, the key factor that distinguishes the cultivation of these plants in a harsh winter is a larger pruning, which allows you to keep the plant root intact. However, it is also necessary to understand that the worst attack for clematis is not cold at all: they tolerate frosts quite well. But an excess of moisture can be a deadly poison for clematis, and therefore even ordinary planting procedures must be performed with special attention to detail and caution. How exactly it is necessary to do this is below:

Clematis do not tolerate shade at all, and therefore the most suitable place for planting will be illuminated by the direct rays of the sun or a semi-shaded place. It is in such conditions that excessive excess moisture will evaporate from the soil surface. Nevertheless, when planting clematis in such a place, you must definitely take care of protection from the wind or good support. If you are planting clematis near the wall of the house, you need to step back from it at least half a meter and make sure that no water drips from the roof onto the bushes.

After that, the landing pit breaks out. Its size is determined by the soil in which your clematis will grow. If the soil is heavy, the size of the hole can be increased up to parameters 70 by 70 by 70.On the other hand, if the soil in your garden is light, a hole can be dug even smaller: the size of 50 by 50 by 50 should be enough.

If the pit is ready, you can start filling it. The first, of course, is the drainage poured into it in the form of fine gravel. You can also use broken brick, but it is likely to collapse soon under the influence of moisture. The drainage is followed by a nutrient mixture for the plant. It includes a fertile bud, humus and compost. It is better to prepare these components in advance. Also, it is quite possible to add sand and a little complex fertilizer to the composition.

It is also important to exclude the possibility that the clematis planting pit is located in the lowlands. In this case, all precipitation will flow into it, which we must do our best to prevent. It will be much better if you prepare an elevation of at least 5 centimeters especially for clematis.

It will also be helpful to prepare clematis supports. This will provide the shrub with stability, but only if the thickness of the support does not exceed 2 centimeters. Otherwise, most likely, clematis simply will not be able to grab onto it.

The most optimal and suitable time for planting is spring, and only when you are sure that the temperature will not suddenly drop. The weather should be well settled, and only then will it be possible to start work.

If you want to deepen your clematis seedling when planting, know when to stop. The most optimal depth will be 7-12 centimeters, but not more. In addition, after planting, it will be very useful and not superfluous to resort to the use of mulching. This technique will not only allow you to solve the problem of drying out the soil, but also help to cope with weeds.

After planting, do not forget that clematis simply need to be watered regularly and abundantly. The most important rule that must be observed in this case is not to overdo it, since waterlogging can destroy the shrub. An equally important procedure is feeding: you need to fertilize the shrub at least three times per season.

Before the really hard and severe frosts come, it is necessary to carry out a planned pruning. On each shoot, it is necessary to leave from three to four buds, and their length should not remain no more than 15-20 centimeters. After that, the remaining cuttings of the shoots must be covered with compost and covered with a special film.

Reproduction of clematis

Most varieties of clematis reproduce very readily. For this, methods such as dividing the bush, cuttings and the method of propagation by layering are used. Moreover, it is the latter that we recommend to you in view of how easy it is to learn and how effective it is. Its essence lies in the fact that the young shoot of the bush is bent in such a way that the gap between the root and tip is in the ground.

Important!

The tip itself should never be underground! It will not end well for the chosen escape.

After that, he is buried in the ground so that he does not accidentally pull out of it. For a more secure attachment, you can resort to using a wire. Now all that remains is to ensure that the cuttings are regularly watered. Also, whenever possible, try to bury new internodes in the ground when they appear. When the time for wintering comes, the cuttings are not transplanted, but they are left to winter next to the mother plant.

After winter gives way to spring, the cuttings turn into more than a full-fledged seedling, which can now be separated from the mother plant and planted elsewhere. However, when carrying out this operation, you need to be careful and try not to hurt anything unnecessary.

Conclusion

While many consider the task of growing clematis in the northern regions incredibly difficult and almost impossible, it really isn't that difficult. You just need to pick up good grade and take care of him with double attention. We hope this article will help you with that.