kay wrote:
On this dratted system my clematis question has got entangled with the
rhubarb, so I'm starting a new thread.

Kay wrote:

Some years ago I grew from seed something that was labelled Clematis
integrifolia. It clearly wasn't, since it galloped straight to the top
of a Sorbus. So I've been looking out for flowers, and this year I
spotted them at the top of the tree - white, dropping, with rounded
rather than pointed petals. In terms of flowering time, this is very
early - before C armandii, and before CC alpina is even showing buds.
So
I assume C cirrhosa - but is there anything else it could be?

It's also not totally tender - it's come through this winter
unscathed,
whereas I lost my 10 year old C armandii

Jeff wrote:

My armandii has just about finished flowering. The cirrhosa balearica

finished a month ago.

I assume that as you said yours could be cirrhosa it is evergreen. If
that
isn't the case, it isn't cirrhosa.



No, I haven't ever taken any interest in cirrhosa, and hadn't realised
it was evergreen. So what else flowers this early? - it is just about
over now, ie it is finishing at the time I would expect armandii to
start flowering. It was in flower at the same time as Cyclamen coum, and
just before wood anemones, if that helps at all!

Our armandii have survived 10 weeks of frost and being covered in ice
for weeks. They have been in flower for a couple of weeks in Zuid Holland.