Clematis 'General Sikorski'
     
Tried and True Recommended by 3 Professionals
Common Name: clematis
Type: Vine
Family: Ranunculaceae
Zone: 4 to 9
Height: 8 to 12 feet
Spread: 3 to 10 feet
Bloom Time: June to September
Bloom Description: Dark lavender
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Flowers: Showy Flowers
Tolerates: Black Walnuts, Deer

Culture

Easily grown in fertile, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Most clematis prefer full sun, but this cultivar tolerates part shade. Roots should be kept cool (shade with annuals or perennials and/or use a 2" thick mulch) and uniformly moist. No pruning is required, however a light pruning in early spring before new growth appears is advisable.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Profuse, 6-8" across, dark lavender flowers with a tinge of red on the center of each sepal and creamy stamens cover this vine in early summer. Bloom on this cultivar comes primarily from the previous year's stems in early summer, but also in a second flush later in the summer on the new (current year's) growth. Flowers are followed by fluffy seed clusters. Flowers may be cut and floated in bowls.

Problems

No serious problems. Some susceptibility to wilt. Important to supply adequate nutrients and water to support new growth. This vine needs a support structure (natural or manufactured) on which to grow.

Garden Uses

This clematis can be trained to climb a wall, trellis, fence, arbor, porch or lamppost. May also be planted to sprawl over and through large shrubs. Provides excellent, long-lasting, deep lavender, summer color.