Clematis plants and where they originate from?

Clematis is an enchanting plant that produces magnificent colourful, muti-shaped flowers with elegantly growing tendrils and adventurous shoots which grow by climbing support structures.

Clematis has become very popular over the decades as a flowering garden plant. Almost every garden in Europe has one or two clematis varieties growing luxuriantly in the sunlight, creating an eye-catching design.

The name clematis is derived from the old Greek word klema which means flexible shoot. Clematis was formally known as burn wort due to the juice the clematis shoot produced which caused an inflammation of the skin and an irritation of the mucous membrane. The plant was called L'herbe aux queux in France because beggars used to smear its juice all over their body to gain sympathy from people.

The distribution of clematis

There are 3 species of clematis which are indigenous to Europe .

  • Clematis vitalba (travellers joy)

  • Clematis alpine

  • Clematis recta which is a shrubby plant that has shoots that do not get woody.

Today gardeners have a wider choice to make regarding which clematis to grow because there are over 200 species worldwide, most of which can be successfully raised in European conditions. The majority of the clematis originated from the temperate regions for example Clematis Montana and Clematis patens originated from China and Japan respectively.

The history of clematis cultivation

In the 17 th century foreign species such as the dainty Italian vine (Clematis viticella) entered central Europe . The Florilegium documentations described it as a blue and red flower with both double and single flowers. By the 19 th century the number of clematis varieties had increased widely due to numerous plant collectors who brought back species and seeds from North America and Japan.

Naming clematis species and varieties

Clematis species originated from the wild. The genus name and species name are written in italic print for example Clematis viticella and hybrids are plants developed through crossing different species. Variety names are normally written within quotation marks ; for example Clematis alpine Frances Rivis and Clematis Jackmanii.

The arrival of large flowered garden varieties

The Jackmanii was created in the Jackman tree nursery in England and it has very large-flowers. Its one of the most beautiful clematis to date and its birth unleashed a heated clematis craze which resulted in the creation of more varieties.

However this craze died down during the First World War and when the clematis gardens were infested with clematis wilt. The past 20 years have been eventful for the clematis plant and more varieties have been created.