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Native alternative(s) for Clematis hybrida:
Clematis crispa Clematis crispa
Clematis viorna Clematis viorna
Clematis virginiana White four petaled flowers
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Clematis flower, Johnston County, NC
Clematis texensis Clematis texensis
Dianthus chinensis x barbatus Flowers
Clematis hybrida has some common insect problems:
Slugs & Snails on Ornamental Plants

Clematis hybrida

Phonetic Spelling
KLEM-ah-tiss HY-brid-ah
This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Clematis hybrids are cultivated herbaceous or woody, perennial, twining vines in the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family. They are derived from two large-flowered clematises that arrived in England in the late 19th century from China. They were used by nurserymen for crossing to make large-flowered hybrids that could be grown commercially. The first of these was ‘Jackmanii,’ created by George Jackman in England at Jackman’s Nursery. The genus name derives from the Greek word klÄ“matis, meaning brushwood or broken branches, perhaps owing to its fragile stems.

Clematis hybrids prefer clay, loam, or sandy soils with a pH near 7. Keep the soil cool (by mulching or overplanting), evenly moist, and well-drained. The clematis hybrids tolerate partial shade but will flower best in full sun. Propagate by stem cutting. 

Today, there may be 1,000 Clematis hybrids that bloom spring, summer, and fall in shades of blue, pink, red, white, purple, yellow, cream, and bi-colors. During a single growing season, a large-flowered hybrid may produce over 100 star- or saucer-shaped blossoms ranging in size from 4 to 10 inches in diameter. The flowers may be single, double, or semi-double. 

Clematis hybrids are weak climbers and may perform best as an interesting ground cover in a naturalized area, a garden accent or specimen, a container plant, or even a houseplant. Their flowers are showy, fragrant, and long-blooming.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Pests of clematis vary from slugs and earwigs to deer and rabbit (herbivores only eat young shoots, which have not yet developed the toxin).

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens. 

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Courtyard Garden
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Barbara Harrington'
    Large (5") purple red flowers with gold stamens
  • 'Edith'
    4-6" white/cream/silver blossoms with red anthers
  • 'Henryi'
    Pure white 6-8" flowers
  • 'Marcelina'
    Overlapping dark violet sepals with a broad violet central bar
  • 'Moniuszko'
    Deep violet flowers with 8 tepals with wavy edges. Violet anthers on creamy .filaments
  • 'Nelly Moser'
    Star shaped pink-lilac flowers (to 8") with deeper pink stripe and reddish-pink anthers
  • 'Sapphire Indigo'
  • 'The President'
    large (up to 7") star-shaped violet-blue flowers with white/pink/red anthers
'Barbara Harrington', 'Edith', 'Henryi', 'Marcelina', 'Moniuszko', 'Nelly Moser', 'Sapphire Indigo', 'The President'
Tags:
#purple#showy flowers#deciduous#poisonous#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#fall flowers#white flowers#purple flowers#pink flowers#red flowers#blue flowers#seedheads#spring flowers#winter interest#fall interest#moist soil#fast growing#well-drained soil#bicolor#rich soils#neutral pH#summer flowers#deer browsing plant#woody vine#herbaceous vine#star shaped flowers#spring interest#twining vine#sandy soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#partial shade tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#black walnut toxicity tolerant#rabbit browsing plant#bell-shaped flowers
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Barbara Harrington'
    Large (5") purple red flowers with gold stamens
  • 'Edith'
    4-6" white/cream/silver blossoms with red anthers
  • 'Henryi'
    Pure white 6-8" flowers
  • 'Marcelina'
    Overlapping dark violet sepals with a broad violet central bar
  • 'Moniuszko'
    Deep violet flowers with 8 tepals with wavy edges. Violet anthers on creamy .filaments
  • 'Nelly Moser'
    Star shaped pink-lilac flowers (to 8") with deeper pink stripe and reddish-pink anthers
  • 'Sapphire Indigo'
  • 'The President'
    large (up to 7") star-shaped violet-blue flowers with white/pink/red anthers
'Barbara Harrington', 'Edith', 'Henryi', 'Marcelina', 'Moniuszko', 'Nelly Moser', 'Sapphire Indigo', 'The President'
Tags:
#purple#showy flowers#deciduous#poisonous#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#fall flowers#white flowers#purple flowers#pink flowers#red flowers#blue flowers#seedheads#spring flowers#winter interest#fall interest#moist soil#fast growing#well-drained soil#bicolor#rich soils#neutral pH#summer flowers#deer browsing plant#woody vine#herbaceous vine#star shaped flowers#spring interest#twining vine#sandy soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#partial shade tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#black walnut toxicity tolerant#rabbit browsing plant#bell-shaped flowers
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Clematis
    Species:
    hybrida
    Family:
    Ranunculaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Hybrid origin
    Climbing Method:
    Twining
    Dimensions:
    Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Poisonous
    Vine
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Cascading
    Climbing
    Dense
    Mounding
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    3 feet-6 feet
    6-feet-12 feet
    12-24 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
    Aggregate
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    This plant has many small, dry fruits each with a silky-plumose tail. Fruit looks like spiral threads in the form a circle.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Bell
    Star
    Urn
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    6 petals/rays
    7 - 20 petals/rays
    Flower Description:
    They bloom in late spring to early summer but often again in late summer to early fall. Flowers have 4-8 petal-like parts of various colors, shapes, and sizes, all with many stamens.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Cordate
    Ovate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are alternate, pinnately divided, and are slightly heart-shaped (pointed on one side).
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Houseplants
    Naturalized Area
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Specimen
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Black Walnut
    Problems:
    Contact Dermatitis
    Poisonous to Humans
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Children
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    High
    Poison Symptoms:
    CAUSES SEVERE PAIN IN THE MOUTH IF EATEN! SKIN IRRITATION MINOR OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. (Poisonous through dermatitis, ingestion, or inhalation. Poisonous parts: All species are toxic, all parts). Symptoms may include: Burning sensation of mouth and mouth ulcers; skin redness and burning sensation.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    protoanemonin
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    Yes
    Poison Part:
    Flowers
    Fruits
    Leaves
    Roots
    Seeds
    Stems