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There are more than 400 named cultivars of hybrid clematis created by crossing and back-crossing among some 200 wild species from China, Japan, Europe, Australasia, Africa and North America. The Jackman group of hybrids includes the original cross, Clematis X jackmanii, between Clematis lanuginosa and C. viticella, as well as dozens of hybrids and selections developed by using it as one of the parents. Members of the Jackman group of clematis produce flowers on the current season's growth, and therefore bloom later in the season than do clematis cultivars that produce their flowers on the previous season's growth. The Jackman cultivars climb with twining stems and cling with leaf stalks that twist and clasp. With good support, vines can reach a length of 10 ft (3 m) in a single growing season. The vines are semiwoody and the deciduous leaves are trifoliate or simple, opposite, and 2-4 in (5-10 cm) long. The spectacular flowers are abundant and large, to 7 in (17.8 cm) across, with 4-6 petal-like sepals, each about 2 in (5 cm) long. Produced from midsummer until first frost, flowers of the various cultivars may be single or double and come in a rainbow of colors. They are saucer shaped and face up and outward, proud of their singular beauty. The fruit is a very distinctive achene (dry, 1-seeded capsule) with a 2 in (5 cm) long silver gray wispy "tail" covered with long silky hairs. They are packed in long lasting fluffy clusters. Only a brief list of selections, demonstrating the range of available flower colors, is given here. 'Alba' - pale gray double flowers; 'Rubra' - plum red double; 'Purpurea Superba' - dark, velvety purple; 'Comtesse de Bouchard' - rose pink; 'Mrs. Cholmondelay' - pale blue; 'Red Cardinal' - crimson.
Location
Culture
Grow Jackman clematis on a trellis, wall or fence. Let it scramble over a rock wall or twine over an arbor. Many gardeners plant clematis at the base of a rose or other shrub and let it climb up and through the branches. Use an early blooming shrub or rose as a host for the late blooming clematis. Jackman clematis politely refrains from dominating its host. As cut flowers, the large blooms of Jackman clematis make an attractive table piece floating in a bowl of water. The curious fruiting heads, clusters of fluffy gray featherlike filaments, are long lasting and very effective in dried arrangements.
Features Steve Christman 2/9/01; updated 8/20/03, 7/24/04
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