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White clematis Prince Charles is a compact variety originally from Japan, characterized by abundant flowering. The shrub is used to decorate gazebos, fences and other garden structures; the plant can also be planted as a ground cover crop.
Description of clematis Prince Charles
The height of the bush can reach 2-2.5 m, the flowers are medium in size, their diameter is on average 6-7 cm. In their appearance, they resemble six-pointed (sometimes four-pointed) white stars with a yellowish core. The petals of Clematis Prince Charles are oval, strongly pointed at the end, with the very tip curling downwards, as can be seen in the photo below. The edges of the petals often appear frayed.
On the outside, the flowers of this variety are painted in light pink tones, darkening at the base and smoothly turning into a delicate purple hue. In the middle of the petal there is sometimes a pronounced vein of dark pink color. The leaves of the bush are mostly single, matte, smooth to the touch.
The Prince Charles variety blooms in June-July, flowering is very abundant. The shrub blooms again in August.As the plant grows, it clings to artificial or natural support with leaf petioles.
Growing conditions for the Prince Charles clematis variety
Clematis cannot be called a capricious crop, however, there are still a number of conditions necessary for the full development of the shrub. It is recommended to adhere to the following recommendations when growing the Prince Charles variety:
- Clematis is best planted in partial shade or sun. Strong shading inhibits the growth of the shrub, its flowering becomes less abundant.
- Preferred soil type: loose sandy loam or loamy soil rich in humus. The acidity of the planting site should not be high.
- Clematis is a moisture-loving crop. It does not tolerate drying out of the soil, so the bush is watered often. To better retain moisture, herbaceous crops are planted under it: marigolds, phlox, lavender. They shade the lower part of the plant, which helps slow down the evaporation of moisture. Also, the Prince Charles variety responds well to mulching around the tree trunk. To do this, you can use crushed pine bark, wood chips, turf, peat, spruce branches or moss.
- Despite its moisture-loving nature, this shrub does not tolerate stagnation of water in the soil. To avoid rotting of the roots of clematis, it is planted in an area with a low level of groundwater - they must pass at a depth of at least 1 m. If they pass higher, clematis is planted on an embankment.
Planting and caring for white clematis Prince Charles
Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out from December to March. Clematis seedlings are planted in open ground either in spring or autumn. Before planting, it is necessary to prepare the soil in advance: the selected area is dug up and humus is added to the soil.
The algorithm for planting the Prince Charles variety is as follows:
- In the prepared area, dig a hole about 60-70 cm deep and 60 cm wide.
- A support is installed in the center of the pit, after which a drainage layer of broken brick or crushed stone is laid on the bottom.
- A soil mixture of the following composition is poured onto the drainage from above: the top fertile layer of soil dug out of the hole, 2 buckets of humus, 1 bucket of peat, 1 bucket of sand, 100 g of bone meal and 200 g of ash. Fill the hole to the middle, forming a mound.
- On the resulting earthen hill, clematis roots are spread. They are sprinkled with earth so that the seedling is buried 8-12 cm.
- Planting is completed by abundant watering and mulching the tree trunk circle with peat.
If clematis is planted in the spring, then the planting hole is not completely filled with soil mixture - it is necessary to leave about 5-7 cm from the surface of the earth. The resulting hole is filled as the shoots become lignified. When planting in the autumn months, the hole is filled up completely and even slightly heaped.
Clematis Prince Charles is fed according to the following scheme:
- during the period of active growth - nitrogen fertilizers;
- during the formation of buds - potassium;
- after flowering - phosphorus;
- Do not feed clematis during flowering.
Green fertilizers, mullein infusion and horse manure solution are well suited for the growth of vines. In the summer months, clematis respond well to complex mineral fertilizers, a weak solution of boric acid and potassium permanganate. In August, it is useful to feed the bush with a superphosphate solution - this way you can prolong its flowering. Nitrogen fertilizers should no longer be applied in August.
Water the bush once a week, the optimal volume of water is 20-25 liters for each bush. In hot weather, the interval between waterings is reduced to 5 days. When heavy rains begin, there is no need to water clematis.
Preparing for winter
In the south of the country, clematis does not need to be covered, however, in the central zone and in the north of Russia, the Prince Charles variety must be insulated for the winter.
The bushes are covered at -5-7 °C, when the soil begins to freeze. In central Russia, this temperature is set in November. The trimmed clematis are sprinkled with dry soil so that a hill about 50 cm high (about 3-4 buckets of earth) is formed above the plant. In winter, this hill will be covered with snow, resulting in the formation of natural insulation of the bush, which will protect it from freezing. Additionally, you can cover the earthen hill with spruce branches if there are severe frosts in the growing region in winter.
In spring, the shelter is not removed immediately, but gradually.
Reproduction
According to the description of the Prince Charles variety, clematis can be propagated in almost all available ways:
- cuttings;
- dividing the bush;
- through seeds;
- layering;
- vaccination.
The seed propagation method is considered the most troublesome; it takes a lot of effort and time. Moreover, when grown independently from seeds, clematis may lose its varietal qualities.
Most often, the Prince Charles variety is propagated by cuttings or layering. In the second case, planting material is prepared as follows:
- In autumn, clematis is pruned to the first bud.
- All cut shoots with developed buds are placed in a hole with peat, sprinkled with fertile soil and covered with spruce branches. In this form, the segments overwinter.
- In spring, buried shoots are watered. When the first shoots appear, the area is mulched with peat.
- By autumn, the seedlings form fairly strong shoots. Now they can be dug up to be placed in a permanent place.
Diseases and pests
The Prince Charles variety is resistant to viral diseases, however, the plant can be infected by a fungus. The greatest threats to shrubs are powdery mildew and rust. Treat the bushes with a solution of “Fundazol”, dry powder “Trichodermin” or a 2% solution of “Azocel”.
If clematis becomes infected with leaf spot, the plant is sprayed with Bordeaux mixture or 1% copper sulfate solution.
Conclusion
Clematis Prince Charles is a rather unpretentious and hardy plant, which allows it to be grown in almost all regions of Russia. It easily tolerates low temperatures and grows well in almost all types of soil. In landscape design, shrubs are used primarily to decorate gazebos, arched structures, verandas and fences; you can also create a hedge from clematis.
You can learn more about the features of clematis from the video below:
Reviews of clematis Prince Charles
The only thing that darkens the impression is that I didn’t know that replanting clematis is not recommended. I later learned from a neighbor that we need to take a more responsible approach to choosing a site; the bush grows in one place for many years. I planted it temporarily in a free area, then planned to replant it. Now I don’t want to take risks, a very beautiful bush has grown.
