Clematis 'Jackmanii' (LL)

About this cultivar:

Clematis 'Jackmanii' (LL)  was introduced in 1862 and was the first of the modern large-flowered hybrid clematises. A dependable, floriferous and hardy garden classic, it is a climber with large violet-purple blooms, still among the most familiar climbers seen in gardens.

It was produced in 1858 from crosses made by the prominent nurseryman George Jackman (1837–1887), of Jackman & Sons, Woking, Surrey. It parents are Clematis lanuginosa, the red form of C. viticella, and an earlier garden hybrid, Clematis × hendersonii. The spectacular success of 'Jackmanii' encouraged Jackman & Sons to introduce a series of clematis hybrids, although none of these ousted 'Jackmanii' from favour. Jackman also produced a monograph, The Clematis as a Garden Flower (with T. Moore, 1872), which he dedicated to H.S.H. Princess Mary, Duchess of Teck, as the clematis was one of her favourite flowers.

Few of Jackman's early hybrids survive today, in part because they were grafted, often on 'Jackmanii'. The plant flowers on the year's new growth, so pruning is best done in early spring, before the plant leafs out. Cut to the ground the plant can reach 3 metres (10 ft) during the season; a column of bloom can be achieved by pruning out stems at varying heights, some as low as four buds, others above head height.

A garden essential!

• Position: Full sun, partial shade
• Soil: Almost any soil, grows well in Ballyrobert
• Flowers: July, August, September
• Other features: Grows well in Ballyrobert, Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit (RHS AGM)
• Hardiness: H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15°C), Fully hardy - grows well in Ballyrobert!
• Habit: Climbing
• Foliage: Deciduous
• Height: 200 - 400 cm (6.5 - 12.5 ft) can prune smaller
• Spread: 100 - 300 cm (3.5 - 10 ft)
• Time to full growth: 2 to 5 years
• Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial, climber
• Colour: Purple, green
• Goes well with: Drainpipes, roses, trees, walls, anything they can climb; even other clematis 
  

About this genus:

Clematis, is one of our favorite genus. But not just ours. William Robinson (1838-1935) said about them ‘As hardy as the British Oak…I believe them to be the finest of all hardy flowers and wish them a pleasant time with their admirers.’ Christopher Lloyd (1921-2006) even started a specialty Clematis nursery within his famous garden at Great Dixter.

Clematis (meaning"a climbing plant" in ancient Greek) is a genus of about 300 species within the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). Their garden hybrids have been popular among gardeners, beginning with Clematis × jackmanii, a garden standby since 1862. Most species are known as clematis in English, while some are also known as traveller's joy, (a name invented for the sole British native, C. vitalba, by the herbalist John Gerard), virgin's bower, old man's beard, leather flower or vase vine.

Clematis are mainly found throughout the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, rarely in the tropics. The wild Clematis species native to China made their way into Japanese gardens by the 17th century. Japanese garden selections were the first exotic clematises to reach European gardens, in the 18th century.

The climbing varieties are valued for their ability to scramble up walls, fences, and other structures, and also to grow through other plants, such as shrubs and trees. Some can be trained along the ground to provide cover. Because of their adaptability and masses of spectacular flowers, clematis are among the most popular of all garden plants. Because different cultivars flower during different seasons it is, in theory,  possible to have a clematis in flower at any time throughout the year. 

They will grow in almost any garden soils and situations, many can be grown in containers. They are a great plant for any garden - don't believe they are for informal gardens only. We grow them almost everywhere in Ballyrobert. Try them with drainpipes, shrubs, roses, trees, anything they can climb;even other clematis.

Much confusion surrounds Clematis pruning. We say - don't worry. As mentioned above, Christopher Lloyd had a specialty Clematis nursery. Here is a I-think-relevant 1969 quote of his  "[The] gardener’s eternally repeated question “When should I?” and “What’s the best time to?”, I've concluded that nine times out of ten the answer is “When you’re thinking about it; when you’re in the mood.”" Amen to that.