Categories: 1 pruning group, red clematis varieties
The clematis variety ‘Advent Bells’ was created in 2000 by British breeder Roy Nunn. In 2009, the variety was registered under this name. The origin of the variety is known: it was obtained as a result of crossing Clematis napaulensis and Clematis cirrhosa var. purpurascens ‘Freckles’.
Characteristics
| Group | Cirrhosa |
| Pruning Group | 1 (no pruning) |
| Height | 10…15 feet (3…5 meters) |
| Flowers | small, bell-shaped, with long stamens |
| Flower Color | creamy with numerous red streaks and spots |
| Blooming | from November to |
| Hardiness Zones | 7-9 |
Description
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‘Advent Bells’ is a semi-evergreen clematis with long (3…5 meters) shoots. In summer, its leaves turn yellow and even brown, but in autumn they regain their green coloring and ability to photosynthesize. Flowering begins in late fall and lasts until February. The flowers are small, bell-shaped, with 4 lanceolate curved sepals. The sepals are about 3.5 cm long and 1.6 cm wide at their widest point. Sepals are pink-cream on the outside and yellowish-cream on the inside with numerous red spots and spots. Stamens are long, with cream or greenish stamen filaments and reddish-pink anthers.
Pictures
Clematis ‘Advent Bells’ care and pruning
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Since ‘Advent Bells’, like other clematis of the Cirrhosa group, is a semi-evergreen, it has certain specifics. Firstly, it is quite heat-loving and cannot tolerate temperatures below -10 degrees Celsius (14ºF). Secondly, just because it can survive temperatures of -10 degrees Celsius does not mean that it can be successfully grown in regions where such temperatures are common.
The fact is that Clematis ‘Advent Bells’ is heat-loving. It needs a long period of high temperatures in order to bloom well enough to set a sufficient number of good flower buds. If it does not get enough heat, it will grow and increase its green mass, but will not bloom. This has been the experience of gardeners in New York and Oregon, as well as in some European countries with comparatively mild but still cold winters.
Planting clematis ‘Advent Bells’
For planting clematis ‘Advent Bells’ you should choose a well-lit place, only light shade during midday hours is allowed. The soil should be light, fertile, with high humus content and good drainage. This clematis prefers a moderate moistening of the soil and poorly tolerates both drought and excessive overwatering.
Care of Clematis ‘Advent Bells’
It is highly desirable to provide this clematis with adequate mineral nutrition, especially if you are growing it on poor, sandy or sandy loam soil. Regularly use a complex for beautifully flowering evergreens or a long-lasting fertilizer such as Osmocote.
Pruning clematis ‘Advent Bells’
‘Advent Bells’ is a group 1 clematis and in principle does not require standard pruning as for large-flowered clematis. But you can do some shaping pruning after flowering, leaving a couple of well-developed buds on the shoots. This clematis should not be cut too short, because buds are rarely formed on perennial shoots.
Clematis cirrhosa ‘Advent Bells’ reviews
- Norfolk, UK: Clematis ‘Advent’ has been growing for many years on the west side of the wall, it is shaded for much of the day, but despite this it has flowered beautifully every winter since it was planted 4 years ago.
- Near Waterville, Maine: clematis has never bloomed in three years, planted in semi-shade, winters well.
- South Carolina: clematis was purchased quite a long time ago and every winter it gives a whole wall of flowers, requiring almost no care. In drought it needs watering, nothing else the owner does.
If you have experience growing clematis ‘Advent Bells’, please share your opinion in the comments on this material. Your experience will be useful to other gardeners.
About the author
Fedor Fironov
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