Clematis variety Mrs. Cholmondeley is a perennial vine, a member of the Ranunculaceae family. The main advantage of an ornamental plant is its ability to bloom continuously and abundantly throughout the entire calendar summer, twining around a support. Its wide purple petals look impressive against the background of bright green leaves. The plant will decorate any garden plot and will become a gardener’s real pride.
Description and characteristics of clematis Mrs. Cholondeli
The scientific (Latin) name of the climbing plant is Clematis Mrs Cholmondeley. Its appearance is like this:
- A young vine has a relatively weak and thin stem. And in an adult it is woody.
- It can grow up to 3.5 meters in height.
- The variety is large-flowered, semi-double flowers with a diameter of 20-23 centimeters, light blue in color, with a delicate lilac tint. Inside there are small, yellow and light brown stamens.
- The root system is powerful, going deep into the ground.
The light green leaf blades are small (5 centimeters long, 2 centimeters wide), oblong, with a pointed end. The hybrid plant looks picturesque.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Experienced gardeners note the following advantages of the Holmondeley variety:
- Unpretentious in care. They do not require complex manipulations when planting and growing.
- Suitable for vertical gardening. Planted in prominent places, near various garden supports (fences, trellises, gazebos).
- The perennial can easily withstand Russian winters.
Clematis Mrs. Cholmondeley also has negative characteristics:
- The background for the vine should be dark or there should be yellow-flowering and yellow-leaved shrubs nearby. When surrounded by other colors, the flowers do not look so impressive.
- The ornamental plant has no immunity to fungal diseases, powdery mildew, or rot.
- Pests may attack leaves and stems.
But, despite the disadvantages, many gardeners prefer to grow an ornamental plant near their home.
Landing nuances
Mrs. Cholmondeley clematis seedlings are usually sold in several forms:
- in a special package, where the root system of an annual plant is located in a moist substrate;
- thin stem with roots;
- roots with buds or sprouts.
Representatives of the Buttercup family are light-loving, so they are planted in a sunny place, protected from drafts. Neutral or slightly alkaline, fertile, loose soil is suitable. The climbing plant will not grow on saline, damp, heavy, acidic soils.
If the entire area is clayey, a drainage system is made in the area where Mrs. Cholmondeley clematis is planted. And the plant itself is planted in a hole filled with a light, fertilized mixture. Before planting, do not add acidic peat or fresh manure.
Groundwater should not come close to the soil surface.
Supports for vines should be at a distance of 30-32 centimeters from walls and fences. Rainwater from the roof must not fall on ornamental plants.
When to plant?
Clematis Mrs. Cholmondeley is planted in the spring - when the ground thaws, or in the autumn - before frost sets in.
Preparation of planting material
Before planting in a permanent place, the seedling is removed from the packaging. In order for Mrs. Cholmondeley's clematis to take root better, the roots are soaked in warm, settled water for a couple of hours.
Planting process
A hole is dug in the prepared place. Pour a layer of fertilized mixture into it, and place the perennial on it so that the root shoots are straightened. Then the hole is covered with soil, making sure that the root does not peek out of the ground. The soil around the young plant is compacted, watered and sprinkled with hay or rotted sawdust.
Care Tips
Care is simple - it includes the procedures that gardeners perform with any crop.
Watering
Water the ornamental plant regularly, but moderately, making sure the soil dries out. If you irrigate the vine too much, this can lead to water stagnation at the root system. And this will lead to diseases.
Feeding
Feeding begins from the second year of life. Fertilizers containing nitrogen are applied in the spring. When buds appear, a representative of the Buttercup family requires complex fertilizer. At the beginning of autumn they fertilize with potassium and phosphorus preparations.
Trimmings
An ornamental plant requires periodic pruning. It is carried out in the autumn. Remove all side shoots, leaving the main stem. Moreover, it is pinched at a distance of 0.5 meters from the ground. After a year, the damaged parts are removed. Then the top of one peduncle is cut off. And for the rest they leave a length of 10 centimeters.
These manipulations will rejuvenate the perennial, stimulate abundant flowering and rapid growth of lateral stems next spring.
Preparing for winter
The perennial is covered before the first autumn frosts. The main peduncle is covered with peat to a height of 7-10 centimeters. This measure will protect the stem. The ground around the representative of the Buttercup family is paved with hay, and on top with spruce forest. The plant itself is lowered, twisted and covered with spunbond. A small layer of soil and roofing material is piled on top. The entire structure is covered with heavy boards so that strong winds do not destroy it.
Disease and pest control
To prevent various diseases, the climbing plant is treated with a solution of cuprum-containing fungicides before and after flowering. And in the summer they spray with insecticides a couple of times to prevent attacks by insect pests.
Reproduction
The perennial can be propagated in spring or autumn by division.Choose a strong, well-developed vine over 5 years old, dig it up without damaging the root system. Divide the plant into several parts with 2-3 live buds. Then they are seated in different holes.
Clematis Mrs. Cholmondeley is a beautiful climbing plant that can grow and bloom in harsh climates. If you follow all the rules for cultivating a crop, then there will be no problems with growing vines. The most beautiful flowers that decorate the perennial for many months are an excellent reason to grow it in the garden plot.
