Clematis indivisa

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 90, Issue 5, 16 May 1955, Page 476

Clematis indivisa

F. E. WILKIN,

Plant Quarantine Officer,

THE lovely puawananga or native clematis [Clematis indivisa] will grow and bloom practically anywhere in New Zealand if it is given good soil and reasonable shelter. The clematis climbs by its leaf stalks and though it may be trained up a shrub or tree, it looks very effective if grown up a trellis or arch, over a garden path; the shining evergreen foliage always looks attractive. The roots of this plant must be shaded. A good mulch of straw or even unrotted compost placed over the roots makes for success. However, sunlight is necessary for the foliage and upper part of the plant. The pure white star-like flowers are so abundantly produced in September and October that they often entirely hide the handsome leaves. The flowers shown in the illustration are male. The female flowers are borne on a separate plant and are generally smaller than those of the male plant, which sometimes has flowers up to 4in. in diameter, and the yellow stamens in their centres add to their beauty; the female plants, however, produce very pretty feathery fruits in autumn which compensate for their smaller flowers. Pruning of clematis is generally not necessary, but after flowering unwanted shoots may be removed close up to a stem or near a bud; it is a far better practice to train or tie trailing shoots in the direction in which it is desired they should climb. All broken, diseased, or dead wood should be removed, however, as a hygienic measure to keep the plant healthy and vigorous. If it is desired to propagate a specially good plant or a certain sex, layering would probably be the best method. This may be accomplished by pegging down a trailing shoot about 3 or 4in. deep in the soil in spring. The wood should be given a twist or slightly notched with a knife' at the base of the layer to interrupt the flow of sap slightly and encourage rooting; the layer should then be bent up so that the growing tip is vertical and the soil may then be levelled out around the layer. If the soil used for layering lacks humus, peat or leafmould should be incorporated in it and if it is heavy, coarse, clean river sand should be mixed in. These operations should be carried out some weeks in advance of layering to allow the soil to settle; it is also essential to make sure that drainage is adequate. When rooting has taken place the layer should be severed from the parent plant and may then be planted in a permanent position in early spring. Seed may be sown thinly in August or September in boxes or beds. An excellent seed mixture may be made as follows: . 2 parts of good loam (sterilised if possible) I part of peat or leafmould I part of coarse river sand All parts are by volume. To each bushel of this mixture |oz. of carbonate of lime and l|oz. of superphosphate should be added. After this material has been firmed the seed should be carefully lined out on top and covered lightly with similar material that has been sieved. When watering, place a piece of loosely woven scrim over the soil to prevent the seed being washed out with the watering rose. It is a good plan to cover the soil in the boxes with paper until the seed germinates. The boxes should be placed in a shady place or shaded at first and then carefully hardened off in partial sunlight, care being taken to shade the roots. When the seedlings are 2in. or so high they may be lined out into beds in the open until ready to plant in their permanent positions, which is best done in the late autumn or early spring when the ground is not too cold. The young plants should be mulched about their roots with sawdust or hay. If desired the seedlings may be pricked off into boxes, the same soil mixture as recommended for seed sowing being used, but with, the addition of Ijoz. of blood and bone or hoof and horn fertiliser to each bushel of the mixture. The plants should also be provided with small sticks or canes for support. Those who do not desire to raise their own plants may obtain excellent, wellhardened plants from any nurseryman who grows native plants.

Department of Agriculture, Wellington