Clematis urophylla Winter Beauty

Clematis urophylla 'Winter Beauty' is an amazing evergreen clematis with winter flowering that has recently emerged in cultivation. This cultivar is still relatively unknown and not widely planted, probably due to uncertainties surrounding its cold hardiness. It is a medium-sized climbing variety that bears large, glossy dark green leaves, somewhat reminiscent of those of its cousin, Clematis armandii. Its small clusters of pendant bell-shaped flowers unfold like a beautiful surprise in winter. It's a marvel!

Clematis urophylla 'Winter Beauty' is also marketed under other names such as C. anshunensis 'Winter Beauty', C. clarkeana 'Winter Beauty', C. campanella 'Winter Beauty', and C. yunnanensis 'Winter Beauty'. It is widely accepted that this cultivar is derived from C. urophylla, a botanical species that grows up to 2000m (6562ft) in the mountains of southwest, central-south, and southeast China. Its natural habitat consists of forests, slopes, and scrub vegetation. It prefers well-drained soil, even somewhat dry during the season. Its cold hardiness is currently estimated at -6 or -7°C (21.2 or 19.4°F) in extreme conditions if the growing conditions are adequate. All clematis belong to the Ranunculaceae family.

Clematis urophylla 'Winter Beauty' shows rapid and vigorous growth. It develops woody stems that can reach a height of 3m (10ft). They cling to their support by means of petioles transformed into tendrils. The evergreen foliage is composed of tough leaves with slightly toothed edges, divided into 3 lanceolate leaflets with recurved tips, measuring about 8cm (3in). They are traversed by strong veins and their colour is a beautiful glossy dark green. The plant usually flowers in January-February, sometimes as early as December depending on the climate. The flowers appear in the axils of the leaves, in clusters of 2 to 5 units. They are pendulous bell-shaped flowers measuring 3 to 4cm (1 to 2in) in diameter. The cream-white flowers are composed of 4 thick and fluffy reflexed tepals, 3cm (1in) long. Its anthers (the male organ of the flower that produces and contains pollen) are yellow on white filaments. The flowers are followed by plume-like silver-grey fruits called achenes.

Clematis urophylla 'Winter Beauty' is quite delicate to cultivate. It is not a very hardy plant and is also susceptible to phytophthora, a disease caused by a fungus that affects certain species when the soil is both warm and moist. In favourable climates, this climber can adorn walls, fences, or garden shelters. Elsewhere, it can be grown in a pot on a trellis, meaning it can overwinter in an unheated conservatory or cool greenhouse.