Clematis: varieties for the Moscow region, description, photo.

 The climatic features of a particular region directly affect the success in growing ornamental crops in the open field. The Moscow region cannot boast of warm winters, and the autumn-spring months are also often cold. Temperature drops and unstable weather are also typical for these places. For this reason, not all clematis varieties are suitable for cultivation in the Moscow region. First of all, the problem is represented by their light-loving and thermophilic nature - in a temperate climate it is not always possible to provide these plants with the necessary light regime. Clematis of hybrid varieties have the greatest resistance to bad weather and low temperatures. These varieties of flowering lianas bred by specialists can bloom profusely even in an unfavorable climate, and also do not require special efforts to care for them.

Of course, in order for hybrid varieties of clematis to successfully take root in the Moscow region, it is necessary to follow a number of agrotechnical recommendations. Almost all of them boil down to standard and not so complicated procedures: watering, loosening and weeding, fertilizing, and regular pruning. Their implementation guarantees abundant and lush flowering of clematis. This article will list the most popular clematis varieties suitable for growing in the Moscow region.

The main characteristics of clematis and their varieties

Despite the rather fragile and sometimes exotic type of flowering clematis, these plants cannot be called capricious and demanding. In the wild, clematis grows not only in forests and along river banks, but also on the slopes of rocky mountains and in steppe regions. Wild clematis most often look like a voluminous and branched bush, or a vertical thicket covering steep cliffs. Some hybrid varieties have the resistance of wild ancestors to winter cold and can withstand strong drops in temperature without losing their decorative qualities.

The main difference between wild clematis and those bred by breeders is the size of the flowers: as a rule, specimens with small flowers grow in the wild, while many garden clematis boast an impressive flower cup diameter. The color range of clematis is impressive in its variety and includes shades from snow-white to almost black. Flowers of clematis can be placed singly, and can form inflorescences of various forms - paniculate, semi-umbellate, corymbose. The flowering period lasts from late spring to early autumn, thus capturing almost the entire warm part of the year.

Clematis stems can grow up to 5 m in length, although they often give more modest indicators. The foliage of the main part of the varieties of this culture is colored deep dark green and consists of leaves arranged in pairs or singly.

Clematis do not like transplanting, and with proper care they can successfully grow and bloom in one place for about 30 years. Flowering vines usually have high growth rates and a tendency to grow widely. For this reason, clematis bushes often thicken, dried shoots remain in the crown, which must be removed in a timely manner. Sanitary and formative pruning should be carried out throughout the season. The splendor of flowering will only benefit from these procedures, and they will benefit the entire bush.

List of clematis varieties used for planting in the Moscow region

1) Ville de Lyon refers to the rather old and therefore time-tested varieties of clematis. Bred by French breeders, it, meanwhile, has a character resistant to northern winters and can safely withstand low temperatures without shelter. In addition, this variety is distinguished by its ability to resist infection by fungal infections. During the flowering period, shoots of clematis varieties "Ville de Lyon" are covered with large flowers of a carmine shade of red, whose diameter can be 15 cm. The petal plates are colored non-uniformly and covered with feathery strokes of a lighter pink color. The core of the flower is decorated with pale yellow fluffy stamens. The height of the shoots is often 4 m. The optimal time for planting clematis of this variety is spring or autumn. It is important that at the time of landing there are no sharp night drops in temperature.

2) "Gypsy Queen" (Gipsy Queen) - a variety of clematis of Polish origin. Its colors are characterized by a deep violet color with noble purple notes. They consist, as a rule, of 4 or 6 petals, noticeably separated, collected in the form of an umbrella. Their diameter can reach 18 cm, although there are also smaller specimens (11 cm). The core is decorated with purple-scarlet stamens. The beginning of the flowering period of clematis "Gypsy Queen" falls in mid-July, the final - in the first days of October, before the frost comes. Flowers form on new shoots: up to 20 flowers can open on each stem. This variety is distinguished by a high degree of resistance to infectious diseases and low temperatures. It can be grown in regions where frosts down to -30 degrees occur. Gypsy Queen is characterized by lush flowering, regardless of whether the bush is located in the sun or in partial shade. The color of the flowers does not suffer from exposure to bright sunlight. However, full shade and constant exposure to the sun are still undesirable. Stagnation of moisture in the soil and its waterlogging are dangerous for the health of clematis "Gypsy Queen". When choosing a site for planting clematis, it is recommended to avoid placing it too close to the walls of buildings and high fences, since the rainwater flowing from them will flood the plants. The optimal spacing between plantings and walls is 20 to 35 cm.

3) Another French hybrid among clematis is called "Red Cardinal" (Rouge Cardinal)... This variety has been repeatedly recognized as one of the best at international exhibitions. As the name of the variety suggests, the flowers of this variety have a noble burgundy color, reminiscent of the cardinal's mantle. Against the background of the petals of a saturated shade, light yellow or fine white stamens look contrasting. The surface of the wide petals is covered with longitudinal stripes, and wavy edges are also characteristic of them. An important point in caring for flowering vines is to create support for them. It is necessary to tie up new shoots to the supporting structures in a timely manner so that the clematis bush gradually takes on a certain shape. In addition, the supports will protect the shoots from damage from strong winds. This is especially important for varieties with high growth rates of shoots - during the summer months they may have 3-5 new shoots that require a garter. The choice of soil is very important for the successful growth and development of clematis. The best option for growing them will be fertile loam, fertilized with nutrient mixtures. Soils with a high level of acidity, heavy and saline soils are categorically not suitable for planting flowering vines. Areas with high groundwater levels should be avoided.

4) Polish breeders have presented the world with another of the most frost-resistant hybrid varieties of clematis, which has been successful for half a century, since the mid-60s. His name - General Sikorski... This variety is resistant not only to the effects of low temperatures, but also to infectious diseases of fungal origin. During the flowering period, the vines of this variety are covered with blue-violet flowers, in the middle of which a yellow bundle of stamens glows spectacularly. Shoots of clematis "General Sikorsky" equally successfully climb artificial and natural supports, for example, tree trunks, twine around bushes, climb hedges. This type of clematis is also suitable for growing in pots and containers. Clematis varieties "General Sikorsky" feel great in partial shade, but bright sunlight and heat are destructive for them. Under the influence of direct rays of the sun, the color of the petals fades, and the flowers themselves quickly wither. You can prolong flowering and strengthen the health of clematis bushes with the help of dressings. Immediately after planting in open ground, the seedling needs abundant watering, and nutrients can be added to the soil mixture placed in the planting holes. Adult clematis bushes also need to be fed. At the beginning of the growing season, nitrogenous fertilizing is introduced, thanks to which the plant grows green mass. On the eve of flowering, the soil should be fertilized with phosphorus-potassium complexes, wood ash. But with organic fertilizers, you need to be careful, especially in the case of processing young plants. In a concentrated form, they can harm the not yet mature clematis bushes and even destroy them.

5) Clematis varieties «Luther Burbank"(Luther Burbank) have long been garden classics. No wonder they are named after the founder of American breeding science. This variety has an impressive appearance: large purple flowers consist of slightly pointed elliptical petals, and in the center are decorated with large yellow-white bunches of stamens. The slightly corrugated surface of the petals and the lighter shades covering it give the flowers an even more dramatic look. The diameter of flowers sometimes reaches 24 cm, about 12 flowers are formed on each liana. Stems of clematis "Luther Burbank" can grow up to 5 m, only 1 bush of clematis of this variety accounts for about 10 vines. Thus, with proper care, clematis of this variety can create a real blooming carpet that grows widely and tightly covers the walls of buildings and fences. For the successful development of flowering vines, it is important to carry out the deepening procedure every year. For this purpose, sprinkle the root of the vines with earth.

6) Nikolai Rubtsov is one of the varieties of clematis that does not tolerate exposure to bright sunlight. The reason for this lies in the delicate color of the elliptical slightly corrugated petals - their surface has a delicate purple hue, diluted with white strokes. When planting clematis of this variety, it is recommended to avoid open areas so that the color of the petals does not fade under the influence of the sun's rays. The Nikolay Rubtsov variety is resistant to low temperatures, but cannot boast of a long flowering period - the opened buds remain on the shoots for no more than a month, and then wither and crumble. This variety is characterized by the formation of lush foliage: the shoots grow widely and intertwine with each other.

7) Another of the clematis varieties from Polish breeders is a recognized favorite among purple flowers, clematis Niobe... Its solemn and slightly gloomy color fully corresponds to the name received from one of the notorious heroines of ancient Greek mythology. According to tradition, the large queen Niobe provoked the wrath of the god Apollo and his sister Artemis by insulting their mother. As punishment, the gods killed all of her sons and daughters. The dark red flowers of "Niobe" evoke associations with the color of blood, as well as purpura, which has long been associated with the royal status.The buds of this variety are almost black in color, which also reminds of mourning. As they mature, they brighten, becoming purple. The pointed shape of the petals resembles the arrows of Apollo and Artemis, which killed 14 children of Queen Niobe. This clematis variety tends to grow widely - the width of the bush can be about a meter with a shoot height of up to 2.5 m. Despite the frost-resistant nature of the Niobe variety, experts do not recommend leaving it without shelter for the winter. It is better to take care of warming the branches of flowering creepers and wrap them tightly to prevent frostbite.

8) The French breeding classics of clematis varieties include Nelly Moserwith an unusual flower structure. Its petals are staggered, in fact, forming two rows, which visually makes them more luxuriant. Coloring "Nelly Moser" is also very effective and unusual: the snow-white surface of the petals in the center is intersected by a wide flat saturated pink color. Like many frost-resistant clematis, representatives of this variety do not like heat and bright sun, under the influence of which their petals burn out and lose their interesting color. In dry periods, it is necessary to water the plantings of clematis of this variety weekly. After each watering, loosening and weeding is required to remove weeds from the site. The advantage of "Nelly Moser" is the long flowering period: in May, the first buds bloom on last year's shoots, in September the shoots of the current season are covered with flowers.

9) In the Crimean Nikitsky Botanical Garden, a variety of clematis was bred more than 50 years ago, dedicated to the world famous Maya Plisetskaya. Its name is natural - "Ballerina"like no other match these dainty whites. This is one of the most beautiful clematis varieties. The petals are snow-white and have an elliptical shape and a pointed top. The core is decorated with a lush rosette of crimson stamens, contrasting against the sparkling white background. The diameter of the flowers is about 15 cm. The shoots of “Ballerina” clematis grow up to 3 m high and are covered with luxurious white flowers twice during the season. The first wave of flowering occurs in June, when the buds bloom on the old stems of the previous year. The beginning of the second wave dates back to July - this time the shoots of the current season are flowering. In order to get a long and abundant flowering of clematis, it is important to take care of the quick and safe adaptation of the seedling in a new place. To do this, before planting it in open ground, place the roots in a solution that stimulates their growth and leave for several hours. The planting holes must be prepared in advance: a drainage layer must be placed on the bottom of the holes, consisting of pebbles, rubble or broken brick. Then a nutritious soil mixture is poured over the drainage layer, forming a hill about 5 cm high. A seedling is placed on its top, while its root system must be carefully straightened.

10) Unlike most hybrid clematis cultivars, the cultivar "Hope" (Nadezhda) was born thanks to the efforts of an amateur gardener, not scientists. The creator of this variety bred it in the 60s and dedicated it to her sister, whose name is immortalized in the name of the variety. The clematis variety "Nadezhda" has established itself as one of the best two-color hybrids, combining high decorative qualities and a character resistant to unfavorable weather. Its flowering period lasts until the first autumn frosts. In the process, his vines are covered with large pale pink flowers, whose leaf blades are decorated with bright purple longitudinal stripes. The core is crowned with golden yellow fluffy stamens.To ensure lush flowering in the coming season, clematis bushes "Nadezhda" must be cut during preparation for wintering - in October or in the first days of November.

Conclusion

The climate of the Moscow region makes it possible to grow far from all of the clematis varieties. Hybrid varieties of clematis have the greatest resistance to winter frosts, short daylight hours in the autumn-spring period, as well as to unstable weather and various fungal infections. To date, through the efforts of breeders, a fairly large number of varieties of this culture adapted to the conditions of a temperate climate have been bred. Every gardener can choose clematis with flowers of any color and shape, based on your preferences. Hybrid varieties of flowering vines require the most necessary and simple care procedures and do not require much effort and special knowledge and skills, which makes them even more popular.