Downy Clematis "Markham's Pink

Photo credit: garten.ch

Downy Clematis is a member of a special group of clematis that bear nodding flowers—delicate blossoms that hang from their compact vining stems like crowds of fairy lanterns or silky ballet skirts. The vines typically begin blooming in April and continue blooming until early June—or later in the very coldest parts of their range.

Although its flowers are smaller than those of the many large-flowered clematis hybrids, downy clematis can still put on a show.

Like most clematis, the Downy Clematis likes to have its roots in cool, moist shade, while its upper portions grow into bright shade or filtered sunlight. It's resistant to pests and diseases. Pruning is unnecessary except to remove dead or broken stems or to keep the plant compact.

Propagating Easy to grow from seed. To propagate cultivars, layer them in the summer by bending a vine down to the soil and pinning it there to root.

Landscape Ideas Downy clematis makes a fine combination with its own pink cultivar 'Markham's Pink' and with a related species, blue-flowered alpine clematis (Clematis alpina). Train the vine up through shrubs such as pieris and photinias.