Content
Clematis pungent or clematis is a perennial plant of the buttercup family, which is a powerful and strong vine with lush greenery and many small white flowers. Simple enough to care for and at the same time highly decorative, Clematis pungent fell in love with many landscape designers and gardeners around the world.
Description of clematis burning
In the natural environment, on the coast of the Black and Mediterranean Seas, clematis burning can reach 3-5 m in height with a diameter of 3-4 m. Clematis prefers forest plantations or thickets of shrubs. In park compositions and private gardens, its dimensions are more modest - up to 1.5 m in height.
Burning clematis (Clematis flammula), also called vine, refers to woody climbing vines. The plant has a fast growth rate, flowers are formed only on the shoots of the current year. Clematis small-flowered white in the photo is very similar to other wild-growing species, such as mountain clematis (Clematis montana) or yellow clematis (Clematis vitalba).
Shoots of clematis pungent rapidly build up green mass. Many small lanceolate or broadly oval leaves 1.5-4 cm long. The color of the leaf plate varies from emerald to dark green, the surface is smooth, with an almost imperceptible waxy bloom.
With the beginning of flowering, which lasts from June to August, the clematis bush is transformed: the liana resembles a light white cloud of hundreds of small stars-flowers. The diameter of the clematis flowers does not exceed 2-3 cm, the sepals are obtuse with pubescence along the very edge, the length is 4-10 mm. Flowers are collected in voluminous airy panicles. One shoot of clematis has from 200 to 400 buds. The flowering of clematis is accompanied by a pleasant, unobtrusive aroma with notes of honey and almonds. At this time, the plant attracts many honey insects.
After flowering on the clematis clematis, you can see red-brown pubescent or naked achenes with a fancy tuft spout up to 7 cm long. Clematis does not lose such an interesting decorative appearance until the end of September.
This type of clematis is called stinging due to a special caustic substance produced by its powerful cord-like rhizome. If it comes into contact with the skin or mucous membranes of the mouth and nasal cavity, it causes irritation, which may be accompanied by swelling. Clematis sap is not poisonous; if precautions are taken during plant transplantation, it does not pose a danger to human health.
Clematis burning in landscape design
Snow-white stinging clematis is a great option for creating natural landscapes in a wild style. It is used for decoration:
- walls;
- arbors;
- screens;
- pergola;
- fences;
- balconies;
- bare tree trunks.
If you put a support near the clematis, the plant will quickly braid it, forming lush white-green thickets. Often small-flowered clematis is planted as a full-fledged bush or creeping flower carpet. Burning clematis is used as a ground cover plant in the design of garden paths, flower beds, and coniferous compositions. Combinations of clematis with crops such as:
- spirea;
- juniper;
- undersized varieties of thuja;
- lilac;
- chubushnik;
- rosehip;
- forsythia.
Often, eastern clematis and other similar species, contrasting in color, are located next to the burning one. The dense small foliage of clematis, combined with countless small flowers, create a romantic atmosphere in the garden and give the area a cozy and well-groomed property. For joint vertical gardening are also suitable:
- girlish grapes;
- hop;
- ivy;
- actinidia;
- decorative beans;
- sweet pea;
- nasturtium;
- kobei.
Landscape designers often combine burning clematis with perennial and annual herbaceous plants. Good neighbors for clematis will be:
- peonies;
- phlox;
- marigold;
- daylilies;
- irises;
- calendula.
Optimal growing conditions
Clematis pungent can be grown not only in the fertile warm climate of the Caucasus and the Mediterranean, it grows well and winters in the temperate zone. Clematis loves good lighting and timely watering without stagnant moisture. Growing in the southern regions can be difficult due to overheating of the soil, which clematis tolerates very painfully. The way out of the situation would be to place the creepers in partial shade and plant a number of dense annuals.
Planting and caring for clematis burning
Observing the simple rules of agricultural technology, you can easily grow a white small-flowered clematis in your summer cottage. An optimally selected place, correct planting and subsequent care will provide abundant flowering and decorative appearance of burning clematis for many years to come.
Selection and preparation of the landing site
Pungent clematis can grow in one place for up to 25 years. It can be placed next to outbuildings, near a gazebo or a veranda, arrange an arch or a fence. It is important that the place is calm and well lit, but not located in the sun itself. Planting clematis in partial shade is allowed - this is ideal for hot climates. Gusts of wind are detrimental to clematis, since they easily break young shoots. Decorativeness suffers from this, and the plant looks dejected.
Like other types of clematis, stinging clematis loves loose, light soil that is rich in nutrients. The pH reaction should be neutral or slightly alkaline. In acidic soil, before planting clematis, lime should be added.
Burning clematis does not tolerate the close occurrence of groundwater, it is not recommended to plant it in lowlands and in swampy areas. Excess moisture will inevitably lead to rotting of the root system. Some gardeners get out of the situation by digging special drainage ditches in the immediate vicinity of clematis plantings. During lingering rains, wood ash is scattered under the bush.
A pit for clematis is dug in advance. Garden soil is mixed with the following ingredients (per 1 m²):
- wood ash - 300 g;
- superphosphate - 150 g;
- peat - 10 l;
- humus - 20 liters.
The dimensions of the depression depend on the dimensions of the root system of clematis, but not less than 60 cm in width and length, depth - 70 cm.Immediately before planting, the soil can be shed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Seedling preparation
A well-chosen planting material is a guarantee of health and abundant flowering of clematis. When examining seedlings in a nursery, you should pay attention to the following nuances:
- the plant should not have mechanical damage;
- pests and signs of any diseases should be absent;
- the root system must have at least 5 roots;
- an autumn clematis seedling should have 2 shoots, a spring one - at least one.
The best time to buy young clematis is mid-September. 2-year-old seedlings with a closed root system have the greatest survival rate.Before planting, the shoots of clematis are cut off, leaving 1-5 buds.
Planting rules for clematis
Burning clematis is planted in open ground in spring or early autumn. In an area with a temperate cool climate, spring planting is more appropriate, in the south - on the contrary, autumn planting. Planting clematis burning is not difficult, however, you need to follow several rules:
- A support is installed at the bottom of a previously dug hole and covered with a layer of drainage from pebbles, broken brick, crushed stone, expanded clay or coarse river sand.
- A layer of fertile soil is laid on the drainage in the form of a mound, on which a seedling is installed, spreading the roots.
- Young clematis is covered with earth so that the root collar is 10 cm below ground level, and something like a funnel or crater is formed around it.
- A clematis seedling is abundantly watered with warm, settled water and mulched with a generous layer of peat.
- In the first weeks after planting, clematis is shaded from direct sunlight.
Watering and feeding
Clematis small-flowered burning loves moisture, you need to water the liana once a week, and on hot dry days - 2-3 times. To do this, it is better to use a watering can without a diffuser, pour water under the root, trying not to get on the leaves and stems. Inaccurate irrigation of the ground part of the clematis can lead to its wilting. Young clematis bushes consume much more moisture than adult perennial vines.
In order for clematis burning to please the gardener with lush and juicy foliage, as well as abundant and long flowering, it must be fed in a timely manner. During the active growing season, organic and mineral fertilizers are applied alternately to the soil around the clematis, observing an interval of 20-25 days.
Nitrogen and its compounds, which are so necessary for active growth, are contained in organic matter (manure, chicken droppings). They are mixed with water and infused - this promotes better absorption of nutrients by the roots of the plant. In the absence of droppings or manure, burning clematis can be fed with urea (urea).
To ensure high-quality bookmarking of buds and lush long flowering, Clematis pungent is fertilized with a complex mineral agent, for example, nitrophos.
When clematis burning begins to bloom, they try not to feed it, especially with products containing a large amount of nitrogen. This will provoke the vine to build up its green mass to the detriment of flowering. When clematis clematis fades, potassium-phosphorus fertilizers are applied to the root zone. It is better to feed the vine immediately after the next watering.
Mulching and loosening
To increase the air permeability of the soil, the near-stem circle is periodically loosened, while removing weeds. The procedure should be carried out after watering or rain. So that moisture from the soil surface evaporates less, burning clematis is mulched with sawdust, humus, peat or fallen leaves. Several times per season, the mulch layer is changed to a new one.
Garter
Young fast-growing shoots of clematis burning are characterized by increased fragility and need timely garter to support. To do this, use raffia, twine or plastic clips. The lower part of the clematis bush is fixed to a mesh or wooden structure with a wire. Lianas are tied up in one layer so that light and air can easily penetrate to any part of the plant. Otherwise, clematis burning will suffer from various diseases caused by a lack of light and high humidity.
Pruning
In the spring, for a more spectacular and long-lasting flowering, several side shoots are cut off from clematis. Dried or damaged branches are removed throughout the warm season.To do this, use a well-sharpened garden pruner, disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate or alcohol. In the fall, a cardinal pruning of all clematis shoots is carried out, leaving only a few nodes above the ground.
Preparing for winter
After the autumn pruning, the near-stem circle is spudded with mulch or dry earth, a wooden box is placed on top, covered with a thick layer of sawdust, peat or leaf litter. A thick plastic wrap with holes made in it for ventilation is fixed on the shelter. In this form, the rhizome of pungent clematis will calmly endure even the most severe and snowless winter.
Reproduction
Clematis pungent can be propagated both vegetatively and generatively. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages:
- Seeds... Clematis small-flowered white is a natural species, therefore seedlings grown from seeds will exactly repeat all the characteristics of the mother plant. The future seed is collected from the clematis at the end of October. The seeds are cleaned of fluff and tuft, placed in containers with wet coarse sand and refrigerated for 2-3 months for stratification. In April-May, clematis seeds are sown in a sand-peat mixture on the surface of the soil, sprinkled on top with a thin layer of sand. Seedling care is reduced to regular watering. When 2-3 true leaves are formed on young clematis, they can be dived into separate containers. The bushes will be ready for transplantation to a permanent place in the garden only next spring.
- Layers... In the spring, near the clematis bush, they dig a shallow groove in which a strong healthy liana is placed and fixed with special metal brackets. After the appearance of new shoots on the layering, it is slightly buried in earth. A year later, the allotted shoot is carefully removed from the ground and cut into separate seedlings, which are immediately determined to a permanent place.
- Cuttings... Both green and lignified clematis shoots are suitable for cuttings. They are cut with a length of 8-10 cm so that the upper cut above the knot is straight, and the lower one is at an angle of 45 °. The leaves below the node are cut off, the tips of the cuttings are treated with a growth stimulant (drugs "Kornevin" or "Heteroauxin") and planted in a greenhouse, in a loose nutritious substrate. After 1.5-2 months, the root system of young vines will be ready for transplantation to a permanent place or to growing beds.
- Dividing the bush... An adult burning clematis is dug in from all sides or taken out of the ground completely. The bush is divided into several parts so that each has a good rhizome and several shoots with vegetative buds. Clematis plots are immediately planted in a permanent place.
Diseases and pests
Clematis burning most often suffers from fungal infections. Clematis pests are:
- aphid;
- bear;
- slugs;
- snails;
- root knot nematode;
- caterpillars;
- spider mite;
- rodents.
The table below describes the most common diseases and pests of clematis, as well as control and prevention measures.
| Disease or pest | Description | Control and prevention measures |
| Rust | Rust on burning clematis appears as red spots on young shoots, petioles and leaves. In the absence of treatment, the shoots are deformed, the leaves turn brown and curl, which subsequently dry out and fall off. | For the purpose of prevention, it is necessary to weed in a timely manner weeds and cut off the affected fragments of the vine. When clematis is infected with rust, a 1% solution of Bordeaux liquid, copper oxychloride (HOM), preparations "Topaz", "Gamair" |
| Gray rot | In cloudy and rainy summers, the leaves and petals of clematis can be covered with brownish spots with a gray down. These are the first signs of gray mold infection. Over time, young shoots and leaves die off, clematis stops growing. Spores of the fungus Botrytis cinerea are easily carried by the wind and quickly infect other horticultural crops | Waterlogging of the soil near clematis should not be allowed. To combat the bushes of burning clematis are treated with the drugs "Azocene", "Gamair", "Fundazol" |
| Powdery mildew | At the height of summer, clematis burning can affect powdery mildew. Leaf plates, green shoots, flowers and buds are covered with a gray-white bloom, reminiscent of flour. Affected fragments quickly change color to brown and die off | Preventive measures against powdery mildew - timely watering without waterlogging, treatment of clematis plantations with cow's milk diluted in water. For treatment, use "Fitosporin-M", "Topaz", "Baktofit", "Alirin-B", soda ash diluted in water (40 g per 10 l) |
| Verticillium wilt (wilt) | The first sign of wilt on clematis is the wilting of the tip of the shoots, especially the young ones. This is the result of the activity of pathogenic fungi that live in the soil and, under favorable conditions, penetrate the stems of the plant. Vessels in the core of the stem are damaged and clogged by the mycelium of the fungus, nutrients are supplied in insufficient volume. The disease spreads very quickly - several lashes can dry out in a day | Do not plant clematis stinging in a shaded area with heavy and acidic soil. It is important to tie up clematis in a timely manner, remove weeds and not overfeed with nitrogen. The peak of fungus activity occurs at a temperature of 23-26 ° C and an increased level of humidity. The bushes of pungent clematis are treated with a 1% solution of copper sulfate, "Trichodermin", "Glyokladin", copper-soap solution. In some cases, it is not possible to save clematis, it is dug up and burned |
| Aphid | At the beginning of summer, aphids are activated on the tops of young shoots of clematis. Numerous small insects literally stick around the clematis, sucking out the plant sap and secreting a sticky liquid. Gradually, the shoots dry out and die off | Aphids are removed from burning clematis mechanically (by flushing with a stream of water), they attract beneficial insects and birds to the garden, use folk methods (spraying with infusions of tops of tomatoes, garlic, onion husks). The most effective is the use of modern bioinsecticides, such as "Fitoverm-M" |
| Snails and slugs | With the arrival of the warm season, clematis burning is attacked by slugs and snails. They eat the soft tissues of clematis, in particular the kidneys. | Pests are collected by hand, wood ash, lime, superphosphate, granular metaldehyde are used to scare off and fight |
| Spider mite | You can notice that clematis stinging is affected by a spider mite, it is possible by the presence of a sticky thick cobweb on the leaves and shoots. Ticks pierce the clematis leaf plate from the underside and feed on the plant sap. Small yellow spots appear in these places, over time, the affected fragments lose color and dry out | Ticks become active in hot and dry weather, usually in the middle of summer. It is difficult to get rid of the pest, you will have to treat the ground part of the burning clematis three times with strong insecticides, such as "Aktellik", "Akarin", "Antiklesh" |
| Gall nematode | Roundworms nematodes infect the root system of clematis, provoking the formation of thickenings that disrupt the normal nutrition of clematis. Liana looks depressed, pale, growth slows down. Young seedlings of clematis pungent may die | Pests are deterred by planting marigolds and calendula. And also mulching the clematis tree trunk circle with mint or wormwood. It is necessary to add compounds containing ammonia (ammonium nitrate or ammonium sulfate) |
Conclusion
Clematis burning is an unpretentious fast-growing vine that will adorn any garden. The snow-white foam of small flowers with a subtle honey scent is able to transform the most nondescript parts of the site, draping them with its dense foliage. Even a novice gardener can grow clematis burning.
