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Clematis for pollinators?
Allyblueeyes
Posts: 420
Afternoon everyone. Does anyone know if there are any clematis that are particularly beneficial to pollinators? Colour, bloom time not particularly important. TIA 🌸
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I used to teach English conversation to Belgian agronomie scientists, some of whom thought only dandelions and nettles would attract pollinators. i invited them to visit mygarden att different times of the year and they were amazed to discover lots of bees and other buzzies on clematis Red Ballon, clematis I Am Happy, clematis tangutica Bill McKenzie at Lambton Park.
Sedum spectabile had 4 different bees on one bloom and echinops and geranium phaeum also had bees in there.
Be warned the winter flowerers like Cirrhosa can look dreadful around August time, they naturally have a dormant period and can look dead.
But then by October , November they perk up again and get lovely new leaf buds and they are worth it for the winter flowers especially Bumble bees.
We have had Bumbles take shelter in the flowers if caught out in cold or windy conditions.
I like C chiisanensis Amber , also has a synonym koreana Amber.
It is yellowy cream semi double, but still has lots of stamens that bees love. I was surprised initially to see them on it.
It flowers around May to June, then reblooms again later in the year around September.
I dead head and feed to make sure we get a second flowering, not sure what happens if you leave the attractive seed heads.
It does need a "not too wet" position in winter like Alpinas and macropetala types .
I think it would do in one of awkward spots where you have a wall or dry foundations, improved.
And I killed my first one by cutting it back too hard. A new one in a clay pot with well draining soil it has come through our rather wet winter.
We have clay soil and it is my choice to try it this way.
But if yours is free draining or you have a bit of a dry spot.
Also it only grows to about 6 or 7 feet so manageable in a large pot.
I know there are probably easier ones, but I think you do get "Bang for your buck" as they say.
And even I can smell the scent of it although it is subtle .
Edited to add! Feed the winter clematis in the late autumn, I do ours around Late September into October, or when I see the new leaf buds show, to give them a boost for winter flowering. I just use a cheapy tomato type feed.
Here's a Google image..