clematis tanguticaMany clematis are grown for their rich pink, purple or red flowers. But the species tangutica has an altogether fresher feel. A long succession of nodding, bright golden flower-heads, are held on long stalks from mid-summer until well into autumn.
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After the flowers have been pollinated, wonderful silken seed heads form, extending the period of interest.
An exuberant deciduous climber, it reaches up to 5 metres high. The deeply cut, fresh green leaves create a fine backdrop to the flowers. It is a particularly accommodating plant, coping equally well with sun or shade but does prefer some shade for the roots.
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As it flowers from mid-summer on current growth, if not pruned it tends to create a tangled mass of growth above bare stems.
Prune back some of the stronger stems to within a couple of inches from the ground, or reduce all stems to about 1 metre (3 feet) to renovate an old unkempt plant.
There are a few similar clematis with yellow flowers, c. orientalis has smaller, paler flowers, c. rehderiana has hanging, curvy, bell-shaped flowers with a primrose like scent, and c. tangutica 'Bill MacKenzie' with contrasting maroon anthers.
Linette Applegate. |
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