Family: Ranunculaceae
Common name: Italian leather flower, Purple clematis, Virgin’s bower, Clematis
Italian leather flower also known as Clematis is a species called Clematis viticella that has hundreds of hybrids and variants that looks very different from each other.
The species was imported to England in the 1500s, and has been garden favorites forever because of their beautiful flowers that come in a variety of colors and shapes.
Plant characteristics
These plants can grow to a height of 3-4 meters with slender, flexible stems that love to climb on trellises, fences, or supporting structures.
The lowest part of the stem is brown, but the upper parts are green and flexible allowing the plant to wrap around, or cling to structures with small, branched tendrils.
Italian leather flower plants have green, compound leaves that are made up of 3 and sometimes even 5 leaflets. Leaves are ovate of lanceolate in shape, about 5-8 cm long, with a slightly toothed margin.
The showstoppers are the beautiful, delicate flowers that bloom in abundance from summer to early fall. They are about 4-7 cm in diameter and come in a range of colors like pink, lavender, violet, deep purple, and white. Italian leather flowers have 4-6 delicate petals that are like paper tissue.
These plants can bloom in hundreds making your garden the envy of all neighborhood. Once the flowers are pollinated by bees, butterflies, or insects, the plants produce small dry fruits that contain a single seed.
Gardening tips
Italian leather flower plants grow well in partial shade since the roots cannot take bright, direct sunlight. They grow well in temperate weather, but they cannot withstand frost.
Since it is nearly impossible to move the plant during colder weather, it is better to prune it down to a stump so that the plant can grow back when the warm weather returns. In warmer weather, the plant can thrive and grow throughout the year.
Italian leather flower plants need regular watering and fertilization especially during summer months. Pruning can be done to remove dead flowers and to encourage new growth. They are mostly grown as ornamental plants in gardens due to the beautifully colored flowers and fast growing habit.
Parts of the plant have toxicity, so it is better to keep children and pets away from them. Take very good care of young Clematis plants since they are prone to slug and pest attacks.
The most popular hybrids are Emilia Plater, Abundance, Justa, Purpurea plena elegans, Wisley and many more.
Propagation
Propagation is through seeds, cuttings, or layering. Layering is the process of bending a low-growing, tender stem to the ground, and making a notch where it touches the soil. This part is then covered with soil till it roots. Once roots are produced, this stem can be severed from the parent plant and replanted.
Photographed at: Temple church, London
