What's in Bloom?
There are always clematis blooming in the garden! See below for a complete list of this week's blooms, plus a map to help you find each theme garden and bed number.
Updated October 17, 2024: As of October 14, we have 140 clematis in bloom, an amazing number for this time of year. We have had a beautiful dry autumn, and are just starting to get some rain. The soil remains dry below the top inch or two. The first phase of planting of the Entry Border is completed. It houses 49 clematis, everything from large-flowered hybrids to herbaceous perennials and woody sub-shrub forms. There are Montana Group members and one evergreen cultivar. We have four large flat panels trellises for the largest to climb on, and specimens from the Atragene Section (such as C. macropetala and alpina hybrids) will drape out of urns, rather than climb. We have even included a new hybrid from US breeder Mike Miller, his ‘Raspberry Beret’. You will see the Entry Border as a new planting area below, and we even have a clematis in bloom there!
For those of you on Facebook, look for us at Rogerson Clematis Garden. We’re on Instagram at @rogersonclematis as well as Rogerson Clematis Garden.
Visit CLEMATIS SALES for WINTER-BLOOMING CLEMATIS now available for online ordering.
Visit CLEMATIS CARE for information sheets on growing clematis. If your questions are not answered there, call or text FRCC at 971-777-4394. Also, for a more detailed response, or to send photos for clematis identification, please email info@rogersonclematiscollection.org
In the Modern Garden, ‘Carnaby’ is showing off cool-night colors. This time of year, it is not uncommon for bars to look more like brush strokes, vivid colors are paler, and pale clematis may be more intense. Row 15
Also in the Modern Garden, C. ‘Evipo084’ JIE has been attracting a lot of attention with its flashy red flowers. This is a Raymond Evison introduction.
Clematis otophora, a Chinese species first cultivated in the west in 1838, has had an excellent year, and isn’t ready to stop blooming yet. Bed 5 in the Heirloom Garden
We are not sure why our best specimen of Clematis glaucophylla got off to a slow start this year, but it is looking great now! It is now continuing to bloom even as it sets seed. Bed 7 in the Heirloom Garden
Clematis alternata, the only clematis with alternate leaves, continues to flower outside on the warm but shaded area at the south end of the greenhouse. The hummingbirds have been visiting, so we hope for good set this year.
We still see a lot of European honeybees feasting on the pollen of the large-flowered hybrids. This is ‘Evipo079’ NUBIA at the end of Row 6 in the Modern Garden.
The Modern Garden
Cool weather produces pale color on ‘Skyfall’, a hybrid from Poland by Szczepan Marczynski. Row 11
At the end of each row along the center aisle is a modern non-climbing hybrid or very short-growing vining cultivar.
ROW 1, Profuse summer bloomers related to C. viticella and some summer urn/trumpet hybrids related to C. texensis
‘Zo09088’ SUPER NOVA
ROW 2, Profuse summer bloomers and Pink large-flowered cultivars
Nothing in bloom
RAYMOND EVISON HYBRIDS (Rows 3-7)
‘Evijohill’ JOSEPHINE, is producing pompoms even more dense than usual. Row 6
Little in stature but mighty in flower power, ‘Evipo082’ YUAN is flowering heavily for the third time this year. Aisle end of Row 7
ROW 3, Evison Hybrids
Nothing in bloom
ROW 4, Evison Hybrids
‘Evipo022’ CHARMAINE, ‘Evipo040’ CHEVALIER, ‘Evipo021’ CHANTILLY, ‘Evipo041’ Ooh La La (this has had an inappropriate trade designation in the US; we use the breeder’s original trade designation).
Deep red flowers on ‘Evipo022’ CHARMAINE and glossy leaves, too! Row 4
ROW 5, Evison Hybrids
‘Evipo063’ CORINNE, ‘Evipo099‘ (The) COUNTESS OF WESSEX, ‘Evipo039’ DIAMANTINA, ‘Evipo118’ DUCHESS OF CORNWALL, ‘Evipo011’ EMPRESS, 'Evipo076’ ENDELLION
‘Evipo118’ DUCHESS OF CORNWALL has performed better in the ground this year than it has in a container. Row 5
ROW 6, Evison Hybrids
‘Evipo084’ JIE, ‘Evijohill’ JOSEPHINE, ‘Masquerade’, ‘Evipo079’ NUBIA at the aisle end
‘Evipo079’ NUBIA climbing to its maximum height of about 30” for a late season finale. Aisle end of Row 6
ROW 7, Evison Hybrids
‘Evipo002’ ROSEMOOR, ‘Evipo077’ SALLY, ‘Evione’ SUGAR CANDY, ‘Evipo111’ TRANQUILITE, ‘Evipo062’ ZARA, ‘Evipo067’ TEKLA, ‘Evipo082’ YUAN at the aisle end
‘Evione’ SUGAR CANDY positively glows in the autumn light. Row 7
ROW 8, Double large-flowered clematis
‘Belle of Taranaki’, Kiri te Kanawa’, ‘Multi Blue’, ‘Zodaque’ DANCING QUEEN, ‘Walter Pennell’ (single form). ‘HJJ-HAZ01’ CHLOE is back in bloom at the aisle end.
‘Zodaque’ DANCING QUEEN is double every time it blooms. We have noticed it flowers on short stems, and it may be a good candidate for container cultivation. Row 8
‘Kiri te Kanawa’ fading nicely from the deep blue of its opening flowers
ROW 9, Profuse flowering clematis (C. viticella and C. texensis hybrids)
‘Zoiamha’ I AM HAPPY, ‘Luxuriant Blue’, ‘Peveril Profusion’
WE WOULD LIKE TO HUMBLY REQUEST THAT, FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, CLEMATIS BREEDERS HOLD A MORATORIUM ON NAMING C. viticella and C. texensis HYBRIDS WITH CULTIVAR NAMES BEGINNING WITH ‘P’. WE CAN’T FIT ANYMORE IN THE ALLOTTED AREA, AND IT’S PLAYING HAVOC WITH THE ALPHABET. Thanks. ;-)
A close-up of the light and lovely ‘Luxuriant Blue’. This makes quite a broad plant, with a long season of late color. Row 9
SZCZEPAN MARCZYNSKI HYBRIDS (Rows 10 & 11)
ROW 10, Marczynski Hybrids
‘Beautiful Bride’
ROW 11, Marczynski Hybrids and White large-flowered cultivars
‘Skyfall’
ROW 12, Red large-flowered cultivars
‘Corona’, ‘Remembrance’, ‘BFCCFLA’ FLAMENCO DANCER (is double, planted here by mistake), ‘Regency’
‘Regency’ has been outstanding this year, and seems to enjoy the even autumn weather.
‘BFCCCFLA’ FLAMENCO DANCER was mistakenly reported to us as being red. Given its doubling ability, it should be in Row 8. However, since there is no room in Row 8 where Fs would go, it will be here for a while. Row 12
ROW 13, Red large-flowered cultivars and Purple large-flowered cultivars
‘Sprinkles’, ‘Sunset’, ‘Voluceau’, ‘Varenne’, ‘Rhapsody’, ‘Tie Dye’
‘Sprinkles’ looks sugar-coated this time of year, and not very red. So it goes!
‘Tie Dye’ had regained some stronger color with the onset of cool nights.
‘Varenne’ is really showing us what it can do this autumn with more of a bar than ever before. Row 13
ROW 14, Lavender/Blue large-flowered cultivars
Pictured below is a seedling that has come up in Row 14. It is not as big and plump as ‘Blue Ravine’, but has a similar coloration. The big difference is the seedling’s wavy edges, very pronounced. We plan to move this to the trial garden and keep an eye on it.
A volunteer seedling in Row 14. Stay tuned!
ROW 15, Lavender/Blue large-flowered cultivars and Striped/Barred large-flowered cultivars
‘Adam’s Courage’, ‘Carnaby’, ‘Doctor Ruppel’, ‘Festival’, ‘Kilian Donahue’
ROW 16, Striped/Barred large-flowered cultivars and Late Adds
‘Donaros’ ROSALIE, ‘Sealand Gem’
Beech Tree's Garden
‘Kahori-no-kimi’ is reblooming in Bed 4 under the towering mountain ash.
BED 1
Nothing in bloom
BED 2
Nothing in bloom
BED 3
‘Rogochi’, Clematis terniflora ‘Variegata’
BED 4
‘Iryu’, C. terniflora (sweet autumn clematis), ‘Malaya Garnet’, ‘Edomurasaki’, C. florida var. flore-pleno ‘Plena’, ‘Kahori-no-kimi’, ’Unsen’, ‘Taiga’, ‘Kaen’, ‘Kaiser’ BLUSHING BRIDESMAID, ‘Fuyu-no-Tabi’
This is one of our largest beds, starting across the paths from Bed 3 and Heirloom Garden Bed 5, continuing along the west boundary fence of The Antipodes beds, and the gravel path towards the chicken coop. Step down to the greenhouse level and walk back toward the farmhouse, which will end the Bed 4 loop.
‘Kaen’ can look quite weird when the plants are young, or when spring is cool. Ours are finally showing us what all of the fuss is about. Bed 4 on the dividing fence with the Antipodes
‘Kahori-no-kimi’ continues to bloom even as it sets seed. Bed 4
For those that may find the spring and summer flowers of ‘Taiga’ garish, let us recommend the subdued beauty of the autumn flowers. That’s Berberis JACKPOT turning colors in the background. Bed 4
Coop Border
Along the west side of the chicken coop and run, this bed faces due west, so the clematis planted here are sun-lovers, along with their herbaceous perennial companions.
‘Watayuki’, ‘Little Bell Sumire’
‘Watayuki’ has fuzzy bells, showing its “Virginia shale barrens” origins.
‘Little Bell Sumire’ is a free-flowering Japanese hybrid of North American species.
Entry Border
This new feature of the Rogerson Clematis Garden is a long perennial border opposite the Coop Border. It begins with an anonymously donated metal arc with waving stems of reeds on which large-flowered hybrids will climb, greeting visitors with that which they expect to see. But beyond the arc are the other forms of clematis most people don’t know about. Large flat panel trellises are populated by clematis that get big. They are fronted by clematis that cannot climb, those that are herbaceous perennials, in all of their wonderful colors and flower forms. A series of urns house draping clematis from the Atragene section (this is the section with C. macropetala and C. alpina, among many other species), which start flowering in April and repeat bloom through the summer. We have some woody shrub clematis here, too! Into all of this celebration of the variation within the genus Clematis, we have added an array of herbaceous perennials from groundcovers to tall summer-blooming plants, including lilies and repeated stands of Celtica gigantea (syn. Stipa gigantea, stipa grass). We have carefully selected a few shrubs into which the non-climbing clematis may loll if they choose.
In bloom: ‘Natalie Cottrell’ (Montana Group)
Clematis ‘Natalie Cottrell’ opened her autumn flowers even though it has just been planted. What a trooper!
Heirloom Garden
Clematis glaucophylla is an early-discovered Georgia native clematis. It is happiest in afternoon shade. Bed 7
BED 5
‘Little Belle’, C. otophora
BED 6
C. x durandii, ‘Lady Londesborough’
‘Lady Londesborough’ is making more of an effort this autumn than usual! Bed 6
BED 7
‘M Koster’ (third wave of bloom), C. glaucophylla, C. heracleifolia
BED 8
‘Madame Julia Correvon’, ‘Lady Betty 'Balfour’, ‘Rubra’ (syn. C. viticella ‘Rubra’), ‘Daniel Deronda’, ‘Jackmanii Rubra’
‘Lady Betty Balfour’ flowers well when there is plenty of heat to ripen its new growth. This is a new image of a different specimen than the one that grows through a euonymus elsewhere in Bed 8.
BED 9
‘Henryi’ (two specimens), C. rehderiana
BED 10
‘Lord Nevill’, C. florida var. flore-pleno ‘Plena’ in the VIPot
Clematis florida var. flore-pleno ‘Plena’ occupies our VIP (very important pot) throughout the growing season, and marks the curve in a path. Bed 10
BED 11
‘Elsa Spath’, ‘Countess of Lovelace’, ‘Madame Julia Correvon’ (see from Bed 14), C. pitcheri (see from bed 14)
BED 12
Nothing in bloom
BED 13
Nothing in bloom
The Front Bank
What is a shale barren? Thousands of years ago, Virginia was underwater. As the inland seas retreated, the layers of compressed silt formed these massive walls of quite fertile crevices, if you have roots that know how to exploit the nutrients. The little mounds of green at the upper right and at the bottom of the shale scree are clever Clematis coactilis.
BED 14
Walking from the driveway west: ‘Zoqum’ QUEEN MOTHER, ‘Princess Diana’, ‘Gravetye Beauty’
The Baltic Border
‘Rahvarine’ showing its details: white anthers with deep plum connectives holding the two anther lobes together. Bred in Estonia by Uno Kivistik
BED 15
‘Darius’, ‘Viola’ (2 specimens in bloom), ‘Ilka’, ‘Rahvarine’, ‘Stasik’, ‘Anna German’ (2 specimens), ‘Mikelite’, ‘Nikolai Rubstov’
‘Ilka’ is an all-around great performer from Estonia. Bed 15
The Founder’s Garden
‘Chalcedony’ is not quite as double as the midsummer flowers, but it will keep trying until a deep frost sends it to bed for the winter. Bed 16
BED 16
‘Chalcedony’, ‘Huvi’ reblooming, ‘Evipo036’ KINGFISHER
‘Huvi’ reblooming with only four sepals, but the color is just as stunning as ever. Bed 16
The Steppe Garden
The flowers of Clematis tibetana subspecies vernayi var. vernayi are incredible. In fact, the whole plant is! The stems are red-plum, and the glaucus foliage is almost thread-leafed. Bed 17
BED 17
This bed wraps around both sides of the old Gravenstein apple tree and includes the stock plants at the south end of the Test Garden.
‘Cleminov29’ SAPHYRA DOUBLE ROSE, ‘Zo086127’ HUDSON RIVER, ‘Zo09045’ BLUE OCEAN, ‘Zoblupi’ BLUE PIROUETTE, C. tibetana subsp. vernayi var. vernayi ‘Orange Peel’, C. tibetana subsp. vernayi var. vernayi, ‘Bill Mackenzie’
Old Poland (the Polish Beds)
In Bed 19 of the Polish Garden, ‘Maksymillian Kolbe’ is back in bloom.
BED 18
‘Monte Cassino’, ‘Kacper’, ‘Westerplatte’ (two specimens), ‘Jan Pawel II’, ‘Kamila’, ‘Sympatia’
Dramatic ‘Kacper’ and its perennial partner, Caryopteris ‘Snow Fairy’. Bed 18
BED 19
‘Agnieszka’, ‘Ania’, ‘Niobe’, ‘Dzieci Warszawy’, ‘Maksymillian Kolbe’
BED 20
‘Marcelina’, ‘Kryspina’, ‘Sylwia’, ‘Westerplatte’
‘Westerplatte’ back in full bloom with companions inky-dark Heuchera ‘Obsidian’ and Berkeya purpurea, a showy African thistle. Bed 20
The Beginner’s Garden
‘Warszawska Nike’ (syn. ‘Warsaw Nike’) showing why it is on the recommended list. A blasting late September wind blew it out of its support variegated boxwood, so we tucked it back in, the clematis grabbed hold again, and continued on its way. Bed 22
BED 21
‘Bill Mackenzie’, ‘Alionushka’, ‘Walenburg’
‘Walenburg’ has sent out a spray of new flowers. Bed 21
BED 22
‘Warszawska Nike’, ‘Minuet’, ‘Arabella’, ‘Etoile Violette’, ‘Princess Diana’ ‘Venosa Violacea’, ‘Prince Charles’
‘Princess Diana’ is reblooming, but showing damage from Cucumber Beetles. Bed 22
‘Venosa Violacea’ looking refreshed after a midsummer chop in July. Bed 22
The Hedges
Clematis texensis at the entrance to the Sales Terrace. Bed 23
With more buds to follow.
BED 23
(Replanted in spring 2024 with Tasmannia lanceolata as the hedging; the Viburnum tinus was removed.)
‘Zo14100’ LITTLE LEMONS (in container by Terrace gate), Clematis texensis (Tarpley River), C. rehderiana
BED 24
Nothing in bloom
Troughs
Nothing in bloom
Subtropical Shade Porch
Clematis alternata
Charming little Clematis alternata is in bloom under the shade porch at the south end of the greenhouse.
The Antipodes
Nothing in bloom
Test Garden
Trial crosses from Japan: Roguchi x Roguchi hybrid by Maurice Horn is back in bloom after a mid-season hard pruning.
CONTAINER DISPLAY AREA
‘Zo14100’ LITTLE LEMONS
This area, between the Bob and Carol Gutmann Greenhouse and The Antipodes will be increasingly populated by a display/demonstration area for growing clematis in containers. We imagine a continually changing, slowly evolving space where those with small gardens will find suggestions and inspiration. Seating is coming soon, too! The broad pale green bowl in the container area will be used to make floating arrangements of clematis.
The Egg
‘Vitiwester’ BURNING LOVE
‘Vitiwester’ is a cross made by Ton Hannink of Holland, using C. viticella and C. ’Westerplatte’. We grow it in remembrance of Ton.
Artist James Harrison donated a handsome structure he created using the proportions of a Fabergé egg; hence we call it The Egg. It occupies the round foundation of the long-gone Luscher Farm silo. The cottage garden herbaceous perennials and volunteer annuals (the sunflowers are full of American Goldfinches nearly all day, every day) make a mad display at the feet of the clematis climbing The Egg through the spring and summer.
In 2022 we altered the clematis planting to include some of the magical hybrids and species selections made by the late Ton Hannink, a past president of the International Clematis Society. What better memorial to the man than his plants?
Mr. Western Bluebird is a frequent percher on The Egg, reminding humans that the mealworm feeder is a thing that exists and always needs replenishing.