the.com/clematis
a vine that throws fistfuls of flowers to hide that it secretly hates its own roots in the sun
means A climbing flowering vine of the buttercup family, prized in gardens for its abundant, showy blooms.
from Straight from Greek 'klēmatis,' a name for climbing plants, built on 'klēma' — a vine-twig or tendril, the kind of shoot you'd snip for grafting. That word in turn grows from 'klan,' to break off. So at its root the clematis is literally 'the little broken branch that climbs.'
- name origin
- Greek klema, meaning vine branch
- cool feet rule
- wants shaded roots, sun-soaked face
- mild toxin
- sap once used to fake beggar sores
- climbing trick
- twists leaf stalks, not tendrils, to grip
- old man's beard
- seedheads turn into silvery hairy plumes
clematis armandii — evergreen species native to china, flowers in early spring with 2-3 inch blooms
clematis jackmanii — hybrid variety developed in 1858, produces deep purple flowers 4-6 inches across
clematis montana — vigorous species from himalayan region, can grow 30+ feet and covers structures entirely in spring