Clematis Triternata Rubromarginata
Triternata grew at the entrance of our round garden, by late Summer it would cover a 5ft tall conifer with its small foliage and tiny flowers.
I am not always keen on climbers relying on other plants as a host, however this one seemed to cause no damage to the conifer.
Triternata Rubromarginata, raised in eighteen sixty two, it is a vigorous grower and has been given the Royal Horticultural Society’s prestigious Award of Garden Merit for outstandning excellence. This delightful Clematis produces masses of small almond scented white flowers with reddish purple edges, from mid August till early autumn.
Pruning is easy with late flowering Clematis, just cut back the stems to a pair of strong buds six to ten inches above ground level, before growth really gets going in late February early March. Nothing could be simpler and for this reason alone I seek out Clematis such as these and have very few which require the pernickety pruning.
Mind you, as far as this plant is concerned I have to admit to downright carelessness. Whilst making changes in the garden, hopefully which would result in more of a year round effect, I lifted this Clematis in a rather cack handed manner, replanting of it was unsuccessful.
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The garden in Autumn this year has not been as colourful as usual. The leaves on many of the trees and shrubs lost most of their leaves before getting a chance to show off. All was not gloomy, here is a few pictures mostly taken at the end of October.
A corner of the main border with the Acer acinitifolium colouring up and the Prunus cerasifera holding on to its shiny red leaves.
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The Cornus Alba Siberica will soon show off its very bright red stems. In the meantime we will enjoy the leaf colour which will not last for very long.
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Sedum Autumn Joy providing a treat for the Red Admiral.
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The Main area of the back garden. The lawn this year will not receive a late trim, hopefully this will help prevent the snow mould which ruined the grass last Winter.
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Part of the woodland area which is a little habitat that the wildlife seems to enjoy.
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Another area of the woodland.
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The secret garden, another area of our back yard that is more natural and not having the cultivated look which some may possibly think is all which we are about.
Next week I will add pictures of what is flowering in the garden in November.
© 2011 – 2015, Alistair. All rights reserved.
WOW! How posh are you!!! A round garden, main border, main area AND a woodland section too!! Beautiful photos Al’ (forgive my familiarity…haha! ), partic’ like that clematis. Love clem’s that just need an annual hack rather than fussy pruning too. Despite the sudden leaf loss your garden is still full of gorgeous colours … an abundance of gorgeousness xx
I know Jane, I just cant help it and yeh, call me Al any time you like and I may come running, once I get my hip joint replacement that is.
Hi Alistair… another lovely post and a clematis that I am unfamiliar with!
I was particularly interested in your comments about preventing ‘snow mold’ in the lawn. Did I understand you correctly that you are planning on allowing the grass to go into winter longer than normal? This is actually the opposite way of dealing with the situation, than what I do. I have started mowing shorter and shorter as we get into the end of the growing season. I have found a number of references on the web that basically state prevention includes the following…
To minimize the risk of snow mold occurring on the lawn it is important to “put the lawn to bed” properly.
a. Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizers in the fall,
b. mow the lawn until it stops growing,
c. clean up leaves in the fall,
d. manage thatch to avoid accumulations of more than 2″
I do know that there are a couple varieties of snow mold in the states at least. One called ‘pink snow mold’ is apparently more serious but I believe it is also prevented as noted here. My grass usually recovers fairly rapidly in the spring from whatever variety we occasionally have difficulty with… now if only the voles were dealt with as easily! Have a great week! Larry
Hi Larry, The snow mold which made the grass look terrible by the end of Winter last year did indeed recover quickly in the Spring. Interesting points which you make regarding keeping the grass short as Winter approaches. I have no evidence that allowing it to be a little longer over the Winter is the answer regarding prevention. However we are always being told by the professionals over here that we cut our grass too short, and when Winter is approaching we should raise the blades of our lawn mowers and by doing so the grass will suffer less when the frost is severe. I will keep in mind the information which you have given me. No problem with voles here. talk soon alistair
I have to leave my grass long going into winter, because it is always too wet to mow it after the beginning of October. I don’t know about snow mould, but I do know about moss. I can’t grow clematis any more, because the mice have suddenly developed a taste for the young shoots. I’ve only got old plants. On the other hand, my slugs have never learned about hostas – and leave them alone. Weird how wildlife behaves….
Kininvie, retarded slugs, whatever next.
I think this spring I will be planting more clematis of all kinds. Your gardens look gorgeous in the fall. The secret garden remains my favorite.
Yes you cant have too many Clematis Carolyn.
Alistair I so look forward to your weekly posts. This clematis did not survive for me but it was my fault. I think I planted a small plug and did not give it enough care…it was a rough spring and summer, but it remains one of my fav clematis. I too seek clematis that do not require too much care. If they do, they will not survive in my garden. I love the look of your fall garden and I especially love the woodland garden…so peaceful…
Thanks Donna, it would be like losing a friend now if I didn’t see the familiar logo of gardenseyeview.
That clematis is an unfamiliar one to me Alister but I like it growing upon your conifer. Our colorful trees lost their leaves too fast this year too but in your case you have some lovely plantings that have wonderful color without the Fall leaves. Dark foliage is always a favorite in my garden.
I wonder if it has had to do with the lack of frost Lona.
Alistair – I like the way you’ve positioned a mirror in the secret garden to look like a doorway to a place beyond. Am I right in guessing that it was Myra’s idea ?
Aw, b-a-g, you always get things right.
Alistair, its a lovely Clematis but the highlight of your post this week – for me – is your Woodland area. Its beautiful …
My 2 Clematis are growing, slowly but steadily. No sign of blooms but its early days yet 🙂
Christine, I find that they can take a couple of years to settle in.
Hi Alistair,
I love your Clematis and I’m pretty certain it is one I have had my eye on – this and a pure white one which flowers in late summer/autumn.
Does it grow well in shade? Not deep shade; perhaps I ought to have said a shady corner which is open but never gets direct sunlight because houses block out the sun.?
Liz, the one in our garden was in partial shade, and did well.
Hi Al,
Thanks for that; I might well go for it and get one then; I’ve a rather ugly red brick wall dividing our gardens that I want to cover up and think this would do an excellent job 🙂
I think clematis Blue Angel would look even better for a position like that Liz.
Your clematis is absolutely gorgeous! I had a few young ones die in the drought/heat we had this year. I would so love to have one as big and beautiful as yours! So sorry it didn’t take to your moving it. Your autumn color looks beautiful to me. And the woodland garden is fabulous!
We do have our failures Holley
I agree Alistair that you can’t have too many clematis. I love yours, it’s a new one for me. The woodland and secret garden are lovely, it’s great to have diffferent styles (for different moods, or days of the week?)
catmint, diversity is good, gives the satisfaction that you are not a one trick pony.
I can’t imagine how you were able to maintain your well trimmed garden like it is, then now you said you still have an area at the back and to me it looks well-maintained too, just not very well trimmed but beautiful. And to think that in those parts you are not having extra helps like here! I wonder if it is partly because of the temperatures, where you can work long duration without being so tired versus here where we get tired at once because of high temps and high humidity.
Yes Andrea it is true that you can work outdoors for probably nine months of the year. Still do the front garden, not quite so flamboyant.
I do love your woodland area Alistair, and your secret garden. I really wish I had been more adventurous about planting clematis to climb up other plants. I have an ugly conifer in the back corner of the garden that is crying out to be used as a climbing frame, but somehow I just never get around to it.
I know what you mean Janet, I have an endless list of things to do.
I love your woodland area (and the rest of your garden!). It’s a gorgeous Clematis, and long flowering too. Shame it didn’t transplant well, you’ll have to order a replacement 🙂
Mark and Gaz, yes the small flowers seemed to suit the situation of this one, think I will get a replacement.
That clematis is stunning and looks well-behaved.
Snow mould was quite a common complaint among some of my customers this spring Alistair. This year I’ve decided not to give the lawn an autumn feed but I’ll give it a light scarify with the lawn raker and then trim the very very tops of the grass once all the leaves come down from my silver pear tree……….that’s if the snow stays away between now and then!
What a lovely woodland seating area you have with all of those lush green fern leaves and the other colours of foliage.
Rosie, I did at one time over feed the lawn in Spring and Summer and although it was a quick fix there was a weakening of the grass. I now just feed once in Spring and then again in Summer, still a great believer in the Autumn feed as long as the correct product is used..
I think this is the first time I’ve seen your secret garden Alistair. But I can understand how a secret garden might get photographed a little less to keep it adequately secret. But I think it is just the best and I especially adore all those huge fabulous floor stones, they are so very appealing, all sizes and fitting together just right. I expect you dance in the secret garden, quite often.
Linnie, the secret garden has hosted many activities, dancing, – no.
Looks like a worthwhile clematis. They are all so pretty. How peaceful your secret garden looks!
It is a favourite spot of ours Chris
Thanks for asking about a photo of my garden, Alistair. I quite like one in the post ‘Looking up the Skirts of Flowers’ – http://tinyurl.com/d4ow2qr
This is its URL
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_spthReGjM_s/TJjjPounyPI/AAAAAAAACn8/5NYJDn–iAM/s400/l.+ESTHER%27S+GARDEN+NOTES+-+LUPINS+AND+SHED+-+JUNE+12TH+2010+-+IMG_0963.JPG
If you would prefer me to send it as an email attachment, I can do that too.
I like it also Esther, and its opening fine, I will add it soon.
Every time I see your garden it seems bigger and bigger. There is so much to see and it changes through the seasons. I think your Fall garden is lovely. We too experienced less color this year.
Thanks Donna, time for us to prepare for Winter now.