Notice

Colin Mills, compiler of the Hortus Camdenensis, died in late November 2012 after a short illness. As he always considered the Hortus his legacy, it is his family's intention to keep the site running in perpetuity. It will not, however, be updated in the near future.

Clematis florida Thunb. var. bicolor

Frost hardy, deciduous or semi-evergreen weak-growing climber with single flowers, 7-10cm across, with creamy white sepals and domed bosses of rich purple stamens in spring and summer.  To 2.5m.  [RHSE, Hilliers’].

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘This very handsome plant is certainly a mere variety of C. florida, from which it differs principally in the clearness and brightness of colour of the flowers, and in being of rather more robust growth.  It is about as hardy as that species, and one of the very best climbing plants that have been introduced for many years.  Trained to some well contrived basket work, fixed upon a pot, and protected by a greenhouse from rain and other causes likely to dim its colours, it ought to form one of the most striking show-plants ever seen.’  [BR f.25/1838]. 

Bicolor is very similar to Clematis florida Thunb. var. sieboldi which see, and which was figured in Flore des Serres [FS f.487/1849].

History at Camden Park

Listed in the 1845, 1850 and 1857 catalogues [T.319/1845].  A plant was presented to the Sydney Botanic Garden by William Macarthur on September 15th 1847 [RBGS AB].

Notes

Published Mar 05, 2010 - 09:32 AM | Last updated Jul 29, 2010 - 05:54 PM

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Shown is a climber with 3-palmate leaves and single white flowers with prominent purple stamens. Botanical Register f.25, 1838.

Clematis florida Thunb. var. bicolor | BR f.25/1838 | BHL

Family Ranunculaceae
Category
Region of origin

China and Japan
Synonyms
  • Clematis bicolor Steud. 
Common Name
Name in the Camden Park Record

Clematis bicolor 
Confidence level high