Clematis x cirrhosa Advent Bells

The Clematis cirrhosa 'Advent Bells' or clematis is a recent and surprising variety, characterized by winter foliage and flowering. At the height of its beauty while the garden is asleep, it produces clusters of pendulous bell-shaped flowers, white-cream, heavily speckled with red-purple. Its finely cut, evergreen foliage, bright green, sometimes tinged with bronze, sometimes disappears in summer to escape the heat and drought, then reappears in autumn with the arrival of rain. Not very hardy, but drought resistant, this medium-sized variety is best suited to mild climates, where it can be grown in pots and stored in a greenhouse or conservatory during winter.

The 'Advent Bells' Clematis is a woody climbing plant of the Ranunculaceae family, of horticultural origin. Born in England in 2009, its parents are Clematis napaulensis, a rare species native to Nepal, and Clematis cirrhosa 'Freckles', derived from a Mediterranean clematis. 'Advent Bells' has fine voluble stems that easily cling to their support (in Latin, cirrhosa means that it twines like a tendril). It will climb up to 4 or 5m (13 or 16ft) in height and spread over 1.50 to 2m (5 to 7ft). Its flowering sometimes begins in November, on fresh foliage, but most often it occurs in February-March, in the form of numerous clusters of flowers 3.5cm (1in) long and 5.5cm (2in) wide, slightly soft, thick, formed by 4 recurved petals and widely open on a bouquet of pendulous pink stamens. The throat of the flower, white-cream, is entirely striated and speckled with rose-purple. It emits a slight fragrance. The leaves, dark green and glossy, are divided and lobed, with coarsely toothed lanceolate leaflets. The cold often tinges them with bronze reflections. They curl up and disappear as soon as the summer heat and its dryness arrive, usually around June.

The 'Advent Bells' clematis is ultimately a low-maintenance, graceful, and very attractive plant due to its winter beauty. Its only flaw is its low hardiness, although this data is controversial and not widely accessible for this still rarely offered plant. If we look at its parentage, it should be able to withstand -12, or even -15°C (5°F) in a well-drained soil, in full sun and sheltered from the wind. Nevertheless, the sight of its speckled flowers against a leaden blue winter sky remains a wonderful surprise, even under the shelter of a cool conservatory. Due to its growth cycle, it is interesting to train it to climb on a deciduous bush (Vitex, lilac, Cotinus) with a complementary growth cycle. Its cascades of flowers decorate their bare branches in winter. In the scented garden, it can be accompanied by Lonicera fragrantissima, which blooms white in February, perfuming the surrounding air.