Can anyone help me identify this vine? I found it at the edge of a wooded area and across a tractor path from one of our fields in Indiana. I looked for more, but because of the weeds being tall, I could only see this one which was rooted back among the tall weeds.
Thanks! It does resemble a clematis, except that the bloom stays just as you see it. It is not open on the inside, but the petals, which there are 4 of, are thick and fleshy. The long, spidery strands you also see in the picture are on the inside of the fleshy petals, which eventually separate and fall off. The spidery strands then spread out. I have looked through numerous books and internet sites, but this one has me truly stumped!
Clematis viorna. The spidery strands are the seeds, which develop after the flower petals fall off - the same as on all other clematis.
Thank you abgardeneer!!!!! That's it. I would have probably looked until I was blue in the face for that one! Do you know if it could be transplanted? I would love to move it to my house, but I don't want to risk killing it. Do you know when would be a good time to try, if I can?
well, no clematis likes it's roots disturbed and even though the upper part usually likes bright light and even full sun, the roots should still be kept shaded. you will have better luck doing a transplant over rooting the cutting...rooting takes a long time, in my experience, and i've never been successful with a cutting...only with putting a piece over and covering it with soil until it starts roots...and then cutting off the newly rooted plant. if you go and dig it up, first make sure you're allowed to do that!! if it's on your land, then no problem. if it's on someone else's, you might want to ask first. when you dig, make sure to go fairly wide AND deep to get the roots up with as little disturbance to them as is possible - leave the dirt mixed in so as to do as little fiddling with them as you can. you'll need to water it well for a few weeks so that it gets re-established. especially since this is the hottest part of the summer. don't make the area boggy...just water deeply every couple of days and it should be fine. they will wilt a bit when transplanted, so expect that. it may even die down...if it does, keep watering it regularly, though and it should reward you with new growth next season. good luck! it's a really pretty one that i've been looking at since i found out about it in the spring...i plan on adding it to my garden next year.
Thanks so much Joclyn! The vine was on our very good friend and neighbors land that joins with ours. I did call and ask and was told to dig all I wanted. I actually just got in. I was lucky enough to find four starts. There were several other types of vines that I think have probably choked out some of the clematis over the years and probably would have totally eliminated it in a few more. Of the four I found two were very small (about 12 to 18 inches tall), one was about 6 feet long and the other one about 12 to 14 feet long. In the process of trying to get the other weedy vine unwrapped from the clematis I did get several breaks in the vines. The dirt pretty much fell away from the roots, but I did get all the root, I think. I brought them home, planted the two smaller ones on the east side of our deck, which stays pretty moist and I can shade the base there with potted plants. The two longer ones I planted in pots in my greenhouse. The shorter of the two totally broke off at about 2 feet, so I stuck the broken end in water. We'll see what that does. The longer one had quite a few bends in it so I just laid the vine over a stand with the pot on the floor. Actually I may go back tomorrow because the very end of that vine is the one that had the blooms on it and the blooming end must have broken off trying to get it out of the jungle! I would have liked to have the blooms to just watch for a few days, they are so neat! I really appreciate your help and everyone's elses quick responses, also. I hope you enjoy your clematis when you get one. I just pray that at least one of mine makes it!
i would put the broken off piece directly into the soil and i'd make a fresh/clean cut and dip the newly cut end into rooting hormone before putting it in the soil...that may just do it. i agree, the flowers are absolutely lovely!! you'll have plenty next year, so i wouldn't worry too much for now!
Thanks again Joclyn! I just finished planting the third vine using rooting hormone. Now I have three in the ground and two in pots. Thanks!
Hello Joclyn and others! Just an update on my clematis viorna. The two planted immediately into the ground are holding their own. They are still green, but not growing. I think they will be okay. The two planted in pots are surprising me! One looked great for about 3 to 4 days and then just dried up. The other never did look great, and in fact, it broke off about 10 inches up. Just yesterday I checked them both and surprise, there is new growth coming from the ground on both! Now I am wondering if I should try to keep them in pots until spring or plant them before winter. Any suggestions?
