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Clematis Red Star is a perennial loach from the Ranunculaceae family. In Russia, the variety became known in 1995 and immediately won the hearts of flower growers. His presence turns the garden plot into a piece of paradise. And when flowering, the air is filled with a light, sweetish aroma, attracting butterflies. The variety is rare, unpretentious, and cold-resistant, so it can be grown by both experienced and novice gardeners.
Description of clematis Red Star
Large-flowered clematis Red Star is a perennial deciduous vine. Long, 2-meter shoots are covered with lush emerald foliage. Twice a year large flowers up to 15 cm in size appear on the plant. The wide petals are painted in a light scarlet color with a crimson tint. The decorative effect of the flower is made by a pale pink stripe running exactly through the center of each petal.
Double or semi-double flowers have lanceolate sepals of irregular shape. Surrounded by bright purple anthers, the stamens stand out, which are located on creamy threads.
The duration of flowering depends on climatic conditions.In warm summers, flowering occurs 2 times a year. The first buds open in the first half of summer, and the final ones in mid-September. Clematis Red Star is a frost-resistant hybrid. In the presence of snow cover, it can withstand temperatures down to – 35 °C without shelter. Thanks to this, Red Star clematis can be erected in all corners of Russia.
Clematis Red Star pruning group
Hybrid clematis Red Star is classified in the second pruning group. Flowering occurs twice: the first flowers bloom in early summer on last year's shoots, the second flowering occurs in early September on young shoots. Considering this factor, pruning must be taken with full responsibility. Properly pruned clematis will bloom magnificently and for a long time.
Optimal growing conditions
Clematis Red Star, like many hybrids, is not picky about its location and climatic conditions. But for beautiful flowering you need to choose a sunny area, nutritious soil and reliable support.
Clematis Red Star is planted on the south or southwest side without drafts and gusty winds. When growing, slight darkening is allowed, but the duration of daylight should be at least 6-8 hours.
Clematis Red Star grows well and blooms profusely on fertile loams with a high degree of looseness. The soil must be drained and aerated.
When landscaping residential walls, at least half a meter is removed from the brickwork.The plant should not be planted next to a pond, as this proximity can lead to flooding, which will lead to rotting of the root system and death of the plant.
Planting and caring for Red Star clematis
Planting and caring for Red Star clematis is not a difficult task, but before purchasing planting material you need to read the description, read reviews, view photos and videos. In order for clematis to please the eye with its flowers throughout the growing season, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the recommendations of experts.
Selection and preparation of a landing site
A correctly chosen location will save the gardener from a lot of problems in the future. Therefore, the selection and preparation of a site must be approached responsibly.
- The area should be bright, but not located in direct sunlight, since prolonged exposure to open sun affects the color of the flowers.
- Do not plant the plant in a draft, as gusty winds can damage the flexible, fragile stems.
- Planting next to buildings can damage clematis: the fence will not allow the vine to grow well, and water will flow from the roof of the house, which will lead to rotting of the root system.
Seedling preparation
When purchasing clematis, it is better to give preference to 1-2 year old seedlings. A healthy plant should have a well-developed root system (at least 3 roots 10 cm long). The roots should be elastic, without signs of disease, swelling or thickening. The seedling should consist of 2 strong shoots and 2-3 developed buds.
If the seedling is purchased with an open root system, then before planting the plant is kept for 2 hours in warm water with the addition of a root formation stimulator.
Landing rules
Clematis seedlings of the Red Star variety are planted in spring and autumn. But in regions with an unstable climate, experienced gardeners recommend planting only in the spring, since before the onset of frost the plant will not have time to grow stronger and will not form a strong root system.
To obtain abundant and lush flowering, you must follow the recommendations of experienced gardeners:
- In a sunny place, dig a hole measuring 50x50 cm. When planting several plants, the interval between planting holes is maintained within 1.5 m.
- A 15 cm layer of drainage (broken brick, expanded clay, small pebbles) is poured onto the bottom.
- Nutrient soil prepared from leaf compost, garden soil, sand and rotted manure is poured into the hole in the shape of a mound.
- The roots of a clematis seedling are straightened and placed on a hill so that the root collar is 2-3 cm underground.
- The voids are filled with soil, compacting each layer.
- The top layer is spilled and mulched.
- The planted clematis is shaded. To do this, marigolds or perennials with a shallow root system can be planted next to the plant.
Watering and fertilizing
Photos and descriptions show that Red Star clematis is an unpretentious hybrid, and even a novice gardener can grow it. Caring for clematis is simple and consists of watering, fertilizing and regular pruning.
Watering Red Star clematis should be regular, abundant, but without stagnation of water. During the summer drought, irrigation is carried out several times a week, using at least 1 bucket of warm water for each plant.With a lack of moisture, flowers become smaller, lose their bright color, and flowering time is reduced. After irrigation, the soil is loosened, thereby creating aeration and drainage.
Without regular fertilizing, Red Star clematis will not bloom magnificently and profusely:
- The first year, Red Star clematis is not fed.
- In all subsequent years, fertilizing is carried out every spring (nitrogen fertilizers), during budding (potassium fertilizing) and in the fall (phosphorus-potassium fertilizers).
Mulching and loosening
To make work easier, the soil around the tree trunk is mulched. Straw, sawdust, fallen leaves or rotted humus are used as mulch. Mulch will save moisture and stop growth weed and will become an additional organic replenishment.
Pruning Clematis Red Star
Clematis Red Star belongs to pruning group 2. This means that the plant blooms 2 times a year. To obtain abundant and long-lasting flowering, pruning is carried out regularly and moderately.
Pruning Clematis Red Star:
- In the year of planting, all the buds are torn off and the tops are pinched. They also cut off all shoots at a level of 30 cm, without touching the main shoot. This pruning will allow the plant to grow side shoots.
- Next, dry and damaged shoots are regularly cut out.
- Last year's shoots are shortened, but not completely removed, otherwise the plant will not bloom in the summer.
- Each branch is pruned at a level of 150 cm so that at least 12 developed buds remain on it.
- An adult clematis leaves 14 healthy, well-developed shoots, this will be enough to produce abundant flowering. The remaining shoots are cut out at the root.
Preparing for winter
After pruning, Red Star clematis is prepared for winter.To do this, before the onset of frost, the tree trunk circle is covered with garden soil or rotted humus to a height of 15 cm. This procedure will help the plant withstand early, light frosts.
The soil is generously shed with warm water with the addition of any fungicide and sprinkled with wood ash. This will prevent diseases and enrich the soil with potassium, which will help clematis withstand severe frosts.
When the temperature drops to -5 °C, the young plant is covered. For shelter, use a wooden box or agrofibre. Spruce branches, straw or fallen leaves are placed on top. Do not use polyethylene as a shelter, since the plant will smear under it and die.
Reproduction
Clematis Red Star can be propagated in 4 ways: seeds, offsets, dividing the bush and cuttings.
Dividing the bush. For propagation by dividing the bush, a plant aged 5-7 years is suitable. This is explained by the fact that young clematis does not withstand transplantation well, and in adulthood the bush grows a powerful root system, which can be damaged when dug up.
Reproduction is carried out in early spring, before sap flow. Before digging up the bush, all stems are trimmed, leaving 2-4 buds on the stumps. The bush is dug up with a large lump of earth, avoiding damage to the roots in every possible way. The dug bush is divided in the center with a sharp, sterile instrument. Each division must have a growth bud and a developed root.
Seed propagation. Propagation of clematis by seeds is a labor-intensive and time-consuming process, so this method is not suitable for novice gardeners. Also, when propagating the Red Star clematis hybrid by seeds, you may not obtain varietal similarity.
Cuttings. The simplest and most effective method of reproduction. In the fall, cuttings with 2 developed buds are taken from a 5-year-old bush. After treating the cut in a growth stimulator, the cuttings are planted at an acute angle in nutrient soil. The container with the cuttings is placed in a cool room where the air temperature does not rise above 0 °C. Before the onset of spring, it is necessary to monitor soil moisture. At the end of winter, the container is transferred to a warm, well-lit room. At the end of March, the first leaves appear on the cuttings, which means that the cuttings have begun to grow a root system. After the end of spring frosts and after the soil has warmed up to + 15 °C, the cuttings are planted in a permanent place.
Reproduction by air outlets. A simple, effective way. In October, a healthy, strong shoot is selected and all leaves are removed. The shoot is placed in a previously prepared trench to a depth of 6 cm. Covered with nutrient soil, leaving the top on the surface. The soil is compacted, watered and mulched. A year later, in the fall, the young plant is separated from the mother bush and transplanted to a prepared place.
Diseases and pests
If agrotechnical rules are not followed, Red Star clematis can be affected by fungal diseases and attacked by insect pests. Dangerous diseases of clematis:
- Gray rot – the leaf blade becomes covered with brown spots. For treatment, the drug “Fundazol” is used.
- Ascochyta blight– the foliage becomes covered with dark spots, which, without treatment, dry out and crumble, forming numerous holes on the foliage. Help consists of treating the plant with a solution of copper sulfate.
- Powdery mildew - a common disease. The fungus attacks young leaves and stems, covering them with a white sticky coating.When the first signs appear, all damaged shoots are cut off and burned, and healthy parts are treated with copper-containing preparations.
- Rust – the outer surface of the leaf is covered with red-colored tubercles. All infected leaves are removed and the bush is sprayed with Bordeaux mixture.
Insect pests are also dangerous to clematis. The most common:
- Nematodes – worms attack roots and foliage. Due to damage to the root system, the plant quickly withers and dies.
- Aphid - a pest that feeds on plant sap. Colonies settle on the inside of the leaf blade. Destroyed with broad-spectrum insecticides, onion or garlic alkaline infusion.
- Slugs are caterpillars, rapidly destroy the entire above-ground part. For destruction, traps made of cabbage leaves or a wet rag are used, and the ground is sprinkled with tobacco, ash or pepper.
Conclusion
Clematis Red Star is a decorative, perennial vine. Due to the large bright flowers, the plant looks effective in any place, but most often it is used to landscape arbors, arches, and walls of residential buildings. Red Star is planted next to conifers, low perennials and ornamental shrubs. Subject to agrotechnical rules, the plant will delight you with flowering throughout the season.
