New Beauty with Clematis 
“The clematis , the favour d flower 
Which boasts the name of virgin-bower. 
— Sir Walter Scott. 
P ERHAPS no climbing plant is better known than Clematis 
■ paniculata , but not one gardener in a hundred has ever seen 
some of the magnificent hybrid species which have been growing 
in a New York garden for nearly forty years. New treasures are 
ever being sought by garden lovers, for it is the novel and the 
unusual feature that every garden enthusiast strives to acquire. 
The large-flowering Clematis offers a new field of interest to 
the enthusiastic amateur. Not only are these flowers strik¬ 
ing in color and size, but they have a sturdiness of growth, 
coupled with a delicacy of form, which makes them objects 
of rare beauty. 
The name Clematis had its origin in Greek and signifies a 
climbing plant. Its botanical relationship connects it with the 
anemone and the buttercup, and the Clematis will one day be as 
familiar as are many of the plants of the ranunculus family. 
Since practically all of the large-flowering Clematis had their 
origin in Europe and Asia, they have been difficult to obtain 
in America. However, as early as 1838, C. florida was exhibited 
at a Massachusetts Horticultural Society meeting. By 1890, 
Parsons’ Nursery, on Long Island, had obtained 73 varieties 
which were offered to the public. With the turn of the 90’s 
came a revival of interest in naturalistic gardening, and the 
choice Clematis was somewhat neglected. Preceding the war 
many varieties were listed, but Ernest Wilson remarked, in 1928, 
that, for the most part, named varieties of Clematis were difficult 
to procure. No doubt, Plant Quarantine 37 has retarded the 
development of interest in Clematis in America. Nevertheless, 
some 40 desirable varieties of Clematis are now available, and 
it will be observed that culture and care are very simple. 
A partially shaded location is ideal. When planted in full 
sun, the lower stems and roots should be shaded by small plants, 
since it is essential to keep the Clematis roots cool and moist. 
A mulch of peat-moss or spent hops may be used to advantage. 
[4] 
JAMES 1. GEORGE & SON 
