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If you are a beginner gardener, but want something interesting, beautiful, growing in different directions, and at the same time completely unpretentious, then you should take a closer look at clematis Arabella. Don't be intimidated by the seeming capriciousness of these unique flowering vines. Description of the variety, reviews from gardeners, as well as photos and features of planting and caring for clematis Arabella, placed in this article, will help you make the right choice.
Description
Clematis Arabella was developed in the UK in the early 1990s by breeder B. Fratwell. It received its name from the daughter of the lords Hershel, the wife of Lieutenant General J. Kizheli.
The clematis variety Arabella, which is discussed in this article, is unusual if only because it does not have the ability to climb, like most common clematis varieties. It is usually classified as a member of the clematis group Integrifolia, the name of which is translated from Latin as whole-leaved.Indeed, the leaves of Arabella are not dissected, like most clematis, and are covered with slight pubescence, which suggests that among the parents of this variety there were representatives of the Lanuginosa group (woolly clematis).
Bushes of this clematis variety are capable of forming a fairly regular raised hemisphere of densely overgrown raised shoots. But at the same time, they completely lack the ability to cling to anything, so when grown on supports they must be constantly tied to them (like climbing roses). Due to this feature, clematis Arabella is often allowed to grow as a ground cover plant.
On average, the length of the shoots of this clematis reaches 1.5 -2 meters. But if it grows, covering the soil with its stems, then by attaching the shoots to the ground, you can ensure that they can grow up to three meters in length.
Clematis Arabella blooms on the shoots of the current year, so it is customary to classify it as third pruning group. Its flowers are unique in that at the beginning of blooming they are characterized by a deep, rich blue-purple color. As it blooms, the color fades and becomes bluish with a slight purple tint. The petals are elongated, separated from each other, there can be from 4 to 8 pieces. The anthers with stamens are creamy in color and may turn yellow when opened.
Flowering begins quite early - depending on the growing region, it can be observed as early as June.Like most representatives of the Integrifolia group, clematis Arabella blooms for a very long time, until September - October inclusive, as weather conditions allow. After heavy rains, the bush may fall apart and the plant may not look very presentable for some time, but soon new shoots with buds appear from the buds and flowering will soon continue.
Landing
The Arabella variety is usually classified as a clematis for beginners, since it can forgive the grower many mistakes, which more luxuriously flowering and capricious varieties of clematis no longer forgive. Nevertheless, proper planting will guarantee a long life and abundant flowering.
Choosing a place and time for landing
All clematis love bright light, and Arabella is no exception, although semi-shaded areas are also quite suitable for it. Due to the characteristics of its growth, clematis of this variety can be planted in a flower pot or basket and grown as an hanging plant.
Both when planting in pots and in ordinary soil, the most important thing is to provide the roots of the plant with good drainage, so that the water does not stagnate in the root zone when watering. No clematis likes this, and it is stagnant water that causes most clematis health problems.
If you get a seedling with a closed root system, then it can be planted almost at any time during the warm season. It is better to first grow rooted cuttings of clematis Arabella in a separate container, the walls of which can subsequently be cut so as not to damage the root system.
It is advisable to plant Arabella clematis seedlings with an open root system either in late spring or early autumn.
No matter what time you plant the seedling, in the first month after planting it needs shading and constant maintenance in a moist state until it is completely rooted.
Selection of seedlings
Of all the varieties of clematis planting material widely available on sale, it is most advisable to choose small rooted cuttings with dormant buds. It is easiest to store them before planting in the lower section of the refrigerator, and when they begin to wake up, they can be temporarily planted in a container for growing.
Clematis seedlings with a closed root system and green shoots can be purchased if it is possible to plant them in the ground within 1-2 weeks, otherwise you will have to look for a suitable place to keep them for a long time.
When choosing clematis seedlings with open roots, they should contain 2-3 unblown but living buds and about 5 root shoots with a total length of up to 50 cm.
Soil requirements
Clematis Arabella can grow in almost any soil, as long as it has a drainage system and nutrients.
How to plant
If you plant clematis directly in the ground, then at the bottom of the prepared hole you need to lay out at least 20 cm of a drainage layer of expanded clay or crushed stone. When planting this variety in hanging baskets, a drainage layer is also necessary, but it can be about 10 cm.
To plant in a hanging pot, you can prepare a mixture of garden soil and humus, adding a few handfuls of superphosphate to it. When planting in the ground, adding humus and wood ash with superphosphate is also desirable, since it will provide the plant with nutrients for the whole year.
When planting, it is recommended to deepen the root collar of a clematis seedling by 5-10 cm, but in northern regions with high humidity it is better to use a thick layer of organic mulch on top of the plantings.
If you want to use a support, it is better to install it before planting the seedling. Just keep in mind that the thin shoots of Arabella clematis are not able to cling to it and you will need to tie it up all the time.
Care
Caring for clematis Arabella will not require any extra effort from you.
Watering
Watering can be done about once a week, perhaps more often in particularly hot and dry weather.
Top dressing
Regular feeding will be needed from about the second year of the plant’s life. You can use ready-made complex organic-mineral fertilizers for flowers once every two weeks.
Mulching
The roots of clematis do not like heat and dryness at all, so to preserve moisture and a suitable temperature regime, it is best to generously mulch the root zone with straw, compost or humus immediately after planting. Subsequently, it is necessary to monitor and update the layer of mulch about once every month or two.
Trimming
Clematis Arabella belongs to the third pruning group, so it is pruned heavily in the fall - small (15-20 cm) stumps with 2-3 buds remain from all shoots.
Shelter for the winter
The Arabella variety tolerates frost well, so it is enough to cover the shoots remaining after pruning with a layer of organic matter and strengthen any covering material on top.
Disease and pest control
Clematis variety Arabella usually withstands any adversity and if all care requirements are followed, then diseases and pests are usually not scary for it. To prevent diseases, you can treat plants with a solution of Fitosporin, and the bioinsecticide Fitoverm will help against pests.
Reproduction
Arabella reproduces exclusively by vegetative methods, since if you try to propagate it by seeds, you will get a result that is far from the original variety.
Cuttings are considered one of the easiest and most accessible methods, but in the case of clematis Arabella, its cuttings root slowly and rather tightly.
The best way for this variety is propagation by layering. Since the stems of clematis Arabella often spread along the ground, it is not difficult to pin them to the ground once again. The daughter plant can be separated from the mother plant in the fall, before pruning.
Dividing a bush is also a quite affordable method, but it does not allow you to get a lot of planting material at once.
Professionals sometimes use clematis grafting, but this method is not at all suitable for beginners.
The use of Arabella in garden design
Clematis Arabella, first of all, will look great as a ground cover plant both in a mixborder, where it forms flowering curtains, and at the base of the walls, decorated with climbing large-flowered clematis.
You can use it in rock gardens, on retaining walls made of gravel or stone. And if you plant it next to small conifers or perennials, then clematis shoots will be able to grow through them and, leaning on the stems, decorate them with flowers.
However, no one forbids letting it grow on a support; you just need to periodically tie it up in different places.
Recently, it has become fashionable to use clematis Arabella to decorate balconies and terraces in hanging pots and baskets.
Reviews
Conclusion
If you have long dreamed of getting to know clematis, but have not decided where to start, try planting the Arabella variety in the garden. It is unpretentious, but it will delight you with its flowering all summer and even autumn, if it is warm. In addition, it is well suited for growing in containers on balconies or terraces.
