Description and characteristics of clematis variety Niobe, planting scheme and care

Clematis variety Niobe is a member of the Ranunculaceae family and is a perennial herbaceous plant. In the wild, it grows in countries with subtropical or temperate climates. In Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, the flower is also grown, thanks to the efforts of breeders. They developed a winter-hardy variety called Niobe. To successfully plant a crop and properly care for it, you should familiarize yourself with the tips below.

Description and features

Clematis is a perennial hybrid flower with vine shoots that grow up to 3 meters in height. The plant is held on the planes by strong tendrils. The leaves are trifoliate, deep emerald.

Large inflorescences with a diameter of 15 cm in various shades of red: burgundy, crimson, lilac. In the middle there are elongated stamens of a bright yellow tone, along the edges of the 6 petals there is slight curling. Pollen starts in the 2nd year and lasts from June to November. To strengthen long vines, supports are required, depending on the artistic composition conceived by the garden owner. Clematis is planted along high fences, trees, and on arches.

The following varieties of clematis are distinguished according to the pruning method:

• first group - the formation of flower ovaries is carried out only on last year's vines;
• the second group is pollen on the growth of the current year, partly on the branches of the past;
• third group - buds bloom only on vines grown in the current season.

Clematis is a capricious plant in terms of care, but even an inexperienced gardener can grow it if desired. It can be grown in the garden or at home to decorate balconies and gazebos.

Origin of the variety

Large-flowered clematis niobe was bred by Polish breeder W. Noll in 1975. It belongs to the Jacqueman group. The culture gained popularity in the CIS countries in the 1980s.

Landing

Clematis should be planted according to the standard pattern for planting vines. The variety does not require any special agrotechnical nuances.

Location requirements

It is advisable to plant clematis in well-lit places with no drafts. The culture grows well in partial shade.

Soil selection and preparation

The soil should be fertile, moist, loose, and well drained.Stagnation of moisture and acidic soil are unacceptable, otherwise the vine will develop poorly or not bloom.

2 weeks before planting, plow the soil with a spade to remove weeds and improve aeration. Mulch with compost, sawdust or tree bark. Immediately before planting, loosen the soil with half a hoe. If the soil is acidic, add sand and humus to it, and organize proper drainage.

Deadlines

Depending on the climatic conditions of the region, clematis is planted in the off-season. In the North, planting is carried out in the spring, in the southern regions - in the fall. It is advisable to plant rhizomes from mid-April to the last days of May, from September to the first half of October.

Selection and preparation of planting material

The basic rule when selecting seedlings is to purchase them only from trusted sellers or nurseries specializing in the production of climbing ornamental plants. When purchasing, you should pay attention to the pruning group. Select clematis seedlings without damage, traces of disease, or beetles. They must be strong and healthy looking.

Before planting clematis, sort the seedlings again. Afterwards, place it in a solution to stimulate the development of rhizomes “Matador”, “Epin” for 30 minutes.

Planting scheme

Transfer clematis seedlings to heated soil, having first dug holes at a distance of 1 meter. Their depth should be 50 cm; a layer of drainage made of pebbles and gravel is laid on the bottom. Afterwards, put humus, compost, sand and peat into the holes, this will give the soil fertility. Compact the soil next to the clematis and water generously. It is necessary to mulch the soil.

Care

You need to care for clematis regularly. It requires timely watering, loosening, shelter for the winter, and pruning.It is also important to treat the vine against diseases and harmful bugs.

Watering

Clematis is watered as the soil dries. It is advisable to irrigate the vine with settled water. There should be no stagnation of moisture; normally, 2 waterings are carried out per week. Add 10 liters of water per 1 square meter.

Loosening and weeding

In autumn and spring, you should mulch the ground with green manure and dig up the area around the climbing plant using a spade bayonet. Loosening is carried out in parallel with weed removal 3 times a month.

Top dressing

Clematis is fertilized with organic matter and minerals in the spring. During active growth and pollen, it is fed with complex compounds, including phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium.

Trimming group

Clematis Niobe is pruned according to the third group. In autumn, the shoots are shortened thoroughly, leaving 2-3 nodes above the ground. In mid-latitudes, plants survive the winter safely under a thick layer of mulch, and in the North - under shelters. In the South, the vine is formed according to the second group of pruning, which allows you to increase the flowering period and get the first flowers on the preserved branches from the previous season.

Shelter for the winter

Clematis is famous for its increased resistance to cold, withstanding frosts down to -40 degrees. To be on the safe side, you can use insulating shelters made from a 20 cm layer of sawdust and 10 cm of peat.

Disease and pest control

The liana has average immunity to diseases, beetles, and is sometimes affected by sudden pathologies and pest invasions. Experienced gardeners recommend carrying out preventive treatments in the spring with chemicals such as Fundazol, Aktelik, copper sulfate, and Bordeaux mixture. Proper care can also enhance the protective properties of the crop.

Reproduction

Clematis is bred 5-6 years after planting.You can propagate it by cuttings, dividing the bush, or rooting layering. The variety is usually propagated using the first method. From an adult bush, in the spring or early June, petioles up to 20 cm long are cut, with 3-4 healthy buds, planted in a separate place or in a container for rooting. In autumn, they are covered before the onset of cold weather. In spring they are planted in a separate place.

Use for decorative purposes

For garden decoration, clematis is ideal. It harmonizes with green bushes, daisies, petunias, and the Astrov family. You can plant the vine in tandem with trees of medium height.

Multi-tiered compositions are created from clematis and used to decorate gardens and parks.

Reviews

Gardeners speak positively about clematis Niobe; their responses will help you find out more information about the plant.

Pavel Cherkasov, 69 years old, Vinnitsa

Hello! I grow clematis Niobe on the arch of the entrance gate and am delighted with it. The plant blooms with gorgeous flowers, creating a romantic atmosphere. I learned about the variety from a magazine in 2003.

Roman Pavlov, 48 years old, Sumy

Greetings! There are only positive impressions about the clematis variety Niobe. I use it to decorate the gazebo at the dacha. It blooms with a lush, crimson color from the beginning of summer until the arrival of frost.

Larisa Ukupnik, 60 years old, Dnepr

Hi all! In the spring of 2005, I bought clematis Niobe seedlings at the market, and since then they have been showing off in my garden. I planted it along the garage as a decoration. The plant is not particularly demanding in terms of care, apart from pruning.