Content
Of course, for long-experienced flower growers or venerable plant collectors, the clematis variety Purpurea Plena Elegance will not be a discovery; it is too common and popular. But beginners in floriculture will not be able to resist admiration for a truly worthy variety of clematis, which combines unpretentiousness with the beauty and abundance of flowering.
Description
The clematis variety Purpurea Plenas Elegance cannot be called completely new - it was obtained at the very turn of the century more than 100 years ago in France. Its author, according to some sources, is the famous breeder F. Morel, while according to others, E. Andre. Despite its advanced age, the variety has still not lost its popularity and is one of the most widespread and sold clematis all over the world. This clematis was even awarded the highest award from the Royal Horticultural Society.
One of the names under which it is sometimes sold is Royal Velvet or Royal Velvet, which can cause some confusion among gardeners.Because the clematis variety “Evifour” is sometimes sold under the same name. They named it so for the amazing, almost velvety texture of the flower’s petals, although some gardeners claim that it disappears by the end of summer and the flowers become simply beautiful.
The clematis variety Purpurea Plenas Elegance belongs to the Viticella group, which, in turn, belongs to the third pruning group. Its flowers appear mainly on this year's shoots.
The liana has average growth energy and in particularly favorable conditions can reach 4 meters, although in Russian conditions its shoots usually grow to 2.5 - 3.5 meters.
Flowers and buds look mainly up and to the sides. The uniqueness of this clematis variety is the fact that all the flowers formed on it are double. And the absence of pistils and stamens leads to a rather unusual appearance of flowers, different from many other varieties. In addition, among the clematis of the 3rd pruning group, that is, those that manage to form flowers on the young shoots of the current year, you will find practically no double varieties. This is the privilege of clematis of the 2nd pruning group, in which similar flowers are formed on last year’s unpruned shoots.
The flowers cannot boast of large sizes; they grow only up to 5-8 cm in diameter, but they are formed in such abundance that they can form a real flowering wall.
Their color is also somewhat unique. It is difficult to describe it clearly in words.At the moment of opening, clematis flowers are distinguished by a rich, deep dark red hue, which over time not only fades slightly in the sun, but changes and becomes reddish-purple with a violet tint. The color shade of clematis can also be determined by the composition of the soil and the level of light.
Finally, the flowering of clematis of this variety can begin as early as the end of June and can be so long that it lasts until September inclusive. It is perhaps difficult to imagine any other variety of clematis that would bloom so abundantly and for a long time, and even with double flowers. This is why Clematis Purpurea Plenas Elegans is a favorite among many gardeners.
But this is not all the advantages of the hero of the article. The frost resistance of this variety is also admirable - it can withstand frosts down to -40°C and can be grown without problems even in the harsh conditions of Western and Eastern Siberia.
In addition, the choice of light for growing clematis Purpurea Plenas Elegance is also quite large. It will not be able to grow only near the northern walls; all other exposures are quite suitable for it. Areas with light partial shade are even suitable for it. When planted in such places, flowering will only begin a few weeks later, otherwise it will be as abundant and luxurious as in the sun.
Yes, and as for resistance to diseases and unfavorable conditions in general, this variety of clematis rarely encounters any problems, especially if it is planted correctly and the basic rules for growing it are followed.
But subsequently, he is able to grow a huge number of stems and leaves, and then flowers, almost from scratch in one warm season.
Landing
Planting clematis is a very responsible matter, since the plants have a long lifespan and, with the right approach, can delight you for up to 20 years or more.
Choosing a place and time for landing
The most important parameter for all clematis, without exception, is a place with good drainage, in which there is never stagnation of water, especially in early spring when meltwater melts. And rain moisture, especially from roofs, should not fall on clematis bushes in abundance. These luxurious vines are very fond of watering and humidity, but stagnation of water in the root zone is strongly discouraged.
The sun, of course, is very desirable, but Purpurea Plenas Elegance can make do with semi-shaded conditions if necessary. As mentioned earlier, its development in this case will only slow down somewhat.
Constant winds and drafts are also very undesirable - clematis can be protected from them by a wall or another powerful bush or even a tree.
The time of planting is determined by the type of seedling. If you have a plant with an open root system, then you can plant it either in early autumn or late spring.
Seedlings with a closed root system are planted at any time during the warm season.
Selection of seedlings
It is best to buy seedlings whose buds are still dormant. Clematis seedlings with leaves can only be purchased in containers.
Of course, clematis plants should not show visible signs of damage or disease.
Soil requirements
The Purpurea Plenas Elegance variety, like most clematis, prefers well-fertilized, light, well-drained soils in which the roots will breathe and actively grow. If your site has high acidity, be sure to add wood ash or lime when planting.
How to plant
Clematis are planted in large, specially prepared holes, about a quarter of a cubic meter in size, pre-filled with a mixture of suitable soil, humus or compost, wood ash and a complex of fertilizers. At the bottom of the pit, it is advisable to additionally lay a drainage layer of sand and pebbles. In such conditions, the roots of the vine will be comfortable, and it will thank you with lush flowering.
The landing site is usually prepared in advance, preferably several weeks in advance. It is immediately necessary to take care of stable supports that are dug into the ground even before planting. When planting, the roots of clematis must be straightened and gradually covered with earth. It is customary to deepen the root collar from 3 to 10 cm. But be careful with the deepening when planting in the northern regions; it is better to generously cover the planting site with a thick layer (up to 10-15 cm) of organic materials.
Immediately after planting, the clematis seedling is tied to supports; later the shoots will find their way up on their own.
Care
Despite all its unpretentiousness, clematis Purpurea Plenas Elegance requires at least minimal attention.
Watering
Regular and fairly abundant watering is very important for clematis, because a lack of moisture will not allow the plants to fully absorb all the nutrients and the flowering period may be shortened, and this cannot but affect the abundance.
It is advisable to water the plants in cloudy weather or after sunset about 3-4 times a week.
Top dressing
If planting is organized correctly, clematis will not need fertilizing in the first year. But, starting from the second year of life on your site, they must be regular and full, otherwise, where will the vines get so much strength for flowering.
Feed clematis You can use both mineral and organic fertilizers once every 2-3 weeks and once a month it is advisable to spray the leaves with microelements in chelated form.
Mulching
Clematis, as a rule, adore the sun, which cannot be said about their roots, which prefer coolness and humidity. Therefore, it is very important to constantly keep the root zone covered with a thick, loose layer of mulch. This layer will also help retain moisture and provide additional nutrition to the clematis roots, which will never be unnecessary.
It is advisable to regularly (once a month) supplement the mulch layer with fresh material - mown hay, sawdust or compost.
Trimming
In the first planting season, absolutely all clematis are pruned at a height of 2-3 buds from ground level. Subsequently, with clematis Purpurea Plena Elegance, the same procedure is repeated every autumn. And every year in the spring it begins an almost new life, growing shoots almost from the ground itself.
Shelter for the winter
Since clematis Purpurea Plena Elegans is pruned very short for the winter, there is no need for the construction of special shelters. It only needs to be covered with a thicker layer of humus and covered with non-woven material, which is strengthened so that it is not blown away by the wind.
In the spring, with the onset of the first warm days, begin to gradually clear the root zone, raking away the mulch to prevent the roots from drying out.
Disease and pest control
The clematis variety Purpurea Plenas Elegans shows good resistance to most diseases. But in early spring, when the buds wake up, you can carry out preventive treatment against diseases of the root zone with Fitosporin, and preventive treatment with Fitoverm will help against pests.
Reproduction
The following propagation methods are well suited for Clematis Purpurea Plenas Elegans:
- Dividing the bush It is optimal to propagate plants that have reached the age of 4-5 years. You can do this procedure in the fall or spring, digging up and separating part of the bush.
- By cuttings you can get many new clematis plants at once. It is better to cut cuttings before flowering, using 3-4 year old bushes. A shoot cut from the middle is cut into pieces 6-7 cm long, with at least two buds, which are placed in a mixture of peat and sand and kept until rooting with constant moisture.
- Layerings - the simplest method, in which mature clematis shoots are placed to a depth of about 10 cm in specially dug grooves and covered with a light mixture, leaving only the very tip of the shoot on the surface. A new plant is separated only for the next season.
- Seed method it makes no sense to use it, since this clematis variety is a hybrid and among the seedlings there is unlikely to be a representative similar to the mother plant.
Application in landscape design
The main advantage of clematis Purpurea Plenas Elegance is its versatility. It is used to decorate pergolas, arches and gazebos, and to create a vertical component in flowering mixborders, and for landscaping hedges.
But thanks to its relative unpretentiousness, clematis Elegance is able to decorate an old wall, a dried tree, and even a garbage heap.
Reviews
Conclusion
An abundance of beautiful double flowers throughout almost the entire summer is what awaits you if you plant clematis Purpurea Plenas Elegance in your garden.
