Clematis armandii Hendersonii Rubra - Evergreen Clematis

The Armand's Clematis Hendersonii Rubra is a more purple form of Armand's Clematis, on which the red colour can be seen at different levels, from the young shoots to the small pink flowers carried by blood-red peduncles. This vigorous liana is one of the few evergreen clematis, which are also more sensitive to cold than deciduous species. Its early flowering, with divinely scented cascades of pink flowers, with notes of orange blossom and vanilla, begins in late winter in the south of our country, and truly explodes in March-April. One of the best uses for this beautiful clematis is to plant it in a large hedge of bushes on which it will take support, and which, at the same time, will hide the dead and brown leaves that remain attached to the branches for a long time.

Armand's Clematis is a persistent, robust, and floriferous Chinese botanical species capable of quickly covering large areas. Originally from central and western China, it was introduced to Europe by Ernest Wilson in 1900. The cultivar 'Hendersonii Rubra', born in the late 1950s, selected and introduced in California by the experimental gardens of Henderson, stands out for its strong red colouration in certain parts of its vegetation, its darker and shinier leaves, and its more intensely colored rose flowers, especially on the reverse side. These plants belong to the Ranunculaceae family.

'Hendersonii Rubra' produces quadrangular woody climbing stems that grow from its stump, reaching a minimum length of 4 to 5 meters (13 to 16 feet), with the same vigor as the species. Over time, this liana will cover more than 3.50 meters (11 feet) in width on the ground. Vegetation starts again at the end of February, with the appearance of large dark red floral buds. They quickly swell and elongate to open into large clusters of pink-purple buds carried by shiny red peduncles. Each bud gives rise to a 5-6 cm (2in) diameter flower, composed of 4 white tepals more or less tinged with pink, with a dark pink reverse side, surrounding a heart of cream and green stamens. Their pronounced, powerful, sweet scent resembles that of orange blossom and almond. After flowering, it is the brown-red young shoots that develop on the branches. They unfold into leaves divided into 3 large, deeply veined, very glossy, dark green leaflets. These leaves are so firmly attached to the stems that they have difficulty detaching themselves when they dry. Large dark brownish-black areas then form, more or less hidden under the young foliage. It may be useful to remove these dead leaves for aesthetic reasons only.

This Hendersonii Rubra clematis is not very hardy and does not tolerate cold winters well, especially in heavy soil and windy exposures. Plant it up to the Paris region to cover a well-exposed, very sunny wall, where it can withstand short frosts of around -12/-15°C (10.4/5°F) once established. However, it is a star of Mediterranean gardens, just like the banksia roses with which it pairs well: it perfectly withstands dry and hot summers after 2 to 3 years of careful cultivation and care, provided it is well established in a deep, well-prepared, amended, and loosened soil. It is best to avoid letting it climb a pergola or arbor for two reasons: its evergreen foliage blocks the sun in winter, and its dry foliage, which accumulates under the vegetation, is not very aesthetic. But the beauty of this liana, as well as the intoxicating scent of its flowers, are well worth a few minutes of meticulous pruning once a year.