Clematis cirrhosa Lansdowne Gem

Clematis cirrhosa 'Lansdowne Gem' is a rare Mediterranean climbing plant. In the heart of winter, it produces a multitude of bell-shaped flowers with 4 dark red sepals, adorned with golden stamens. Its highly lobed foliage is bronze then green. It is (semi-)evergreen. This vigorous plant has a moderate growth habit. It will beautifully dress a deciduous bush. It is sensitive to cold and can only survive if temperatures do not drop below -8°C (17.6°F).

Clematis cirrhosa, also known as the waxflower clematis, is a climbing plant from the Ranunculaceae family. Native to the Mediterranean region, from southern Spain to the Middle East via Greece and Sardinia, it grows in rocky and fairly dry terrain, on sunny slopes with a tendency towards limestone. It has evergreen (or semi-evergreen, depending on the region), somewhat leathery foliage with deeply incised lobes, and an incised margin. Often bronze when budding, it turns medium green afterwards. The petioles transformed into tendrils help it to easily cling to the surrounding bushes. The stems generally reach a length of 3m (10ft), with a spread of 1.5m (5ft). Its main characteristic, however, is its ability to flower in the middle of winter, between January and March. The flowers can even bloom in November, depending on the climate. The bell-shaped flowers have somewhat leathery sepals, a waxy appearance (which gives the plant its name), and are slightly fragrant. The 'Lansdowne Gem' variety presents beautiful dark red, purplish flowers.

Clematis cirrhosa 'Lansdowne Gem' is an easy-to-grow climber, provided it is given perfectly well-drained, even rocky soil. Avoid overly wet soils, as they would cause the stump to rot. Also avoid overly rich soils, which would result in excessive foliage growth at the expense of flowers and increased susceptibility to diseases. Once established, it tolerates periods of drought very well. However, its hardiness is quite limited: it should be grown in a climate where the coldest temperature does not exceed -8°C (17.6°F). Alternatively, it can be cultivated in a large pot. As with most clematis, place it "with its feet in the shade and its head in the sun".

This clematis works wonders when trained on a trellis or, even better, in a large deciduous bush, such as a chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) or a smoke bush. Its moderate growth means it can adorn bare branches during winter without suffocating the bush. The climber's flowering ends when the bush produces its first leaves, creating a beautiful effect for months. During the early stages of its life, it is wise to help the young shoots cling to their support. This will help them to cover the support more quickly.