Clematis chiisanensis 'Lemon Bells'
A cultivar registered by UBC Botanical Garden with the Canadian Ornamental Plant Foundation (COPF) and the International Registration Authority for Clematis.

Status:
UBC Botanical Garden Plant and Centre for Plant Research Plant Introduction
UBC Botanical Garden Accession: 27749-0348-1988

Botanical name:
Clematis chiisanensis

Cultivar:
'Lemon Bells'

Family:
Ranunculaceae

Common Name:
Lemon Bells clematis

Origin:
A seedling selection made at UBC Botanical Garden in 1992 from seed sent from Chollipo Arboretum, South Korea in 1988.

General Description:
Deciduous woody vine to 2 or 3 m at maturity. Young stems, petioles and flower pedicels are a shiny dark purple. Bright green leaves remain clean throughout the summer. Leaves are trifoliate with large marginal teeth. They are dull on the upper surface and shiny below. Flowers on previous season's wood in May and June, with a few flowers produced on new growth throughout the summer. In full sun the predominately pale yellow pendulous flowers are darker wine-red at the base of the four petals; shady siting will reduce the wine-red flush. The petals are very thick, spongy and prominently ridged and curve outward toward their wavy tips. There is a ring of flattened spoon-shaped staminodes (sterile stamens) about half the length of the petals, between the fertile stamens and petals. The seed heads (4 cm across) are very attractive both when young (silky green) and also when mature (fluffy and off-white), extending the season of interest for many months.

Soil requirements:
Average, well drained to moist soils.

Exposure:
Partial shade to full sun but needs a cool root area.

Pruning:
Pruning generally not needed, but may be pruned just after its first flush of flowers to keep a desired height.

Uses in the landscape:
Excellent as a hardy flowering vine on a trellis, fence or arbour, or over large shrubs.

Hardiness:
Hardy to USDA Zones 6 to 8 / Canadian Zones 6b to 9a.

Propagation:
Single node or double node softwood cuttings from early May to early July. Cuttings can be rooted as early as February from stock plants over wintered under glass or polyethylene. Apply 0.3-0.5% IBA in talc as a rooting hormone. As for most Clematis, care is required to prevent damping off and decay of buds during rooting. Ensure cuttings are kept turgid during preparation, use a well-drained rooting medium and avoid excessive misting. To avoid deterioration of cuttings, once rooted, remove from propagation facility to harden off.

Sales potential:
Excellent in 1 to 2 gallon pots at garden centers when in flower in spring, especially when staked or trellised. The clean bright foliage contrasting with the dark purple stems and attractive seed heads should make it a saleable plant even when not in flower.