What's in Bloom?
There are always clematis blooming in the garden! See below for a complete list of this week's blooms, plus a map to help you find each theme garden and bed number.
Updated April 25, 2024: Welcome to Spring! We’ve had some lovely dry weather and the clematis buds are popping! We have 46 clematis in bloom, up 20 from the last update. The C. montana selctions and cousins have joined the section Atragene, which includes many fabulous hybrids of Clematis alpina, macropetala, and blooming slightly later, C. koreana. Also offering fuzzy flowers to the spring sun are those children of the Virginia shale barrens, in the American C. integrifolia group of non-climbers. We’ve had our first large-flowered hybrids open, mainly those always-early creamy whites.
For those of you on Facebook, look for us at Rogerson Clematis Garden, and we’re on Instagram at @rogersonclematis as well as Rogerson Clematis Garden.
Purchase clematis onsite Monday/Wednesday/Friday/Saturday, 10:00am-2:00pm. Visit CLEMATIS SALES for all the information.
Visit CLEMATIS CARE for information sheets on growing clematis. If your questions are not answered there, call or text FRCC at 971-777-4394. Also, for a more detailed response, or to send photos for clematis identification, please email info@rogersonclematiscollection.org
The brilliantly pink Clematis ‘Freda’ is in full bloom on the shady north end of the Chicken Coop border. This variety is slower growing than many of the other C. montana hybrids, so it isn’t difficult to keep it winding on its half round, 5.5’ tall support.
‘Blue Dancer’, with its extra long sepals, is in bloom in Bed 23.
Notice how thoroughly ‘Markham’s Pink’ blooms from the ground up. And it will do this again in August…it’s a dependable rebloomer.
In Bed 17 one of our favorite daffodils in bloom, the late-season species Narcissus poeticus, the pheasant’s eye or poet’s narcissus. It’s scented!
The Modern Garden
‘Zo09124’ PICOTEE is the first large-flowered clematis to be fully open in the Modern Garden (Row 16).
At the end of each row along the center aisle is a modern non-climbing hybrid or very short-growing vining cultivar.
ROW 1, Profuse summer bloomers related to C. viticella and some summer urn/trumpet hybrids related to C. texensis
Nothing in bloom
ROW 2, Profuse summer bloomers and Pink large-flowered cultivars
Nothing in bloom
RAYMOND EVISON HYBRIDS (Rows 3-7)
ROW 3, Evison Hybrids
Nothing in bloom
ROW 4, Evison Hybrids
Nothing in bloom
ROW 5, Evison Hybrids
Nothing in bloom
ROW 6, Evison Hybrids
Nothing in bloom
ROW 7, Evison Hybrids
Nothing in bloom
ROW 8, Double large-flowered clematis
We were misinformed about this clematis, as we were told it is double in the spring, and so it was planted in the row reserved for double clematis. When we have room to expand the area for white large-flowered hybrids, it will be moved.
‘Mary-Claire’ (single form)
ROW 9, Profuse flowering clematis (C. viticella and C. texensis hybrids)
Nothing in bloom
SZCZEPAN MARCZYNSKI HYBRIDS (Rows 10 & 11)
ROW 10, Marczynski Hybrids
Nothing in bloom
ROW 11, Marczynski Hybrids and White large-flowered cultivars
Nothing in bloom
ROW 12, Red large-flowered cultivars
‘Regency’ is blooming unusually early for a “red” clematis.
‘Regency’
ROW 13, Red large-flowered cultivars and Purple large-flowered cultivars
Nothing in bloom
ROW 14, Lavender/Blue large-flowered cultivars
Nothing in bloom
ROW 15, Lavender/Blue large-flowered cultivars and Striped/Barred large-flowered cultivars
Nothing in bloom
ROW 16, Striped/Barred large-flowered cultivars and Late Adds
‘Zo09124’ PICOTEE is the first to open, with a couple of cold-distorted false starts visible in the lower right of this image.
‘Zo09124’ PICOTEE
Beech Tree's Garden
Japanese species Clematis fauriei (pronounced four-ee-eye) has been widely used in hybridizing. Bed 3, and easily seen from the driveway
BED 1
‘Brewster’, ‘Elizabeth’
BED 2
This montana selection, ‘Picton’s Variety’, marks one of the entrances to the Beech Tree’s Garden.
‘Picton’s Variety’
BED 3
‘Picton’s Variety’, Clematis fauriei
BED 4
Large-flowered ‘Asao’ is often the first of the Japanese hybrids to bloom in our area’
This is one of our largest beds, starting across the paths from Bed 3 and Heirloom Garden Bed 5, continuing along the west boundary fence of The Antipodes beds, and the gravel path towards the chickens. Step down to the greenhouse level and walk back toward the farmhouse, which will end the Bed 4 loop.
‘Asao’ (in two locations within this bed), ‘Toltae’ TAE (on the fence)
Coop Border
Along the west side of the chicken coop and run, this bed faces due west, so the clematis planted here are sun-lovers, along with their herbaceous perennial companions.
‘Utsusemi’, ‘Freda’
Japanese hybrid ‘Utsusemi’ is already in bloom! Tiny, but a jewel none the less.
Heirloom Garden
Clematis macropetala is a sheet of amethyst and sapphire. Its companion is Weigela florida var. variegata. Bed 10
BED 5
Nothing in bloom
BED 6
Brewster Rogerson grew this form of Clematis patens from seed given to him by a Japanese friend, who had been given wild collected seed.
Clematis patens (Manchurian form)
BED 7
Clematis alpina
BED 8
Nothing in bloom
BED 9
Nothing in bloom
BED 10
Clematis macropetala
BED 11
‘Fair Rosamond’, C. spooneri
BED 12
Clematis ‘Brewster’ acting as offical greeter on the farmhouse arbor.
‘Brewster’, ‘Miss Cavell’
BED 13
Nothing in bloom
The Front Bank
Clematis coactilis is native to the shale barrens of eastern Virginia.
What is a shale barren? Thousands of years ago, Virginia was underwater. As the inland seas retreated, the layers of compressed silt formed these massive walls of quite fertile crevices, if you have roots that know how to exploit the nutrients. The little mounds of green at the upper right and at the bottom of the shale scree are clever Clematis coactilis.
BED 14
Walking from the driveway west: C. albocoma, C. viticaulis, C. ochroleuca, C. coactilis, C. fremontii (pale form), C. ochroleuca ‘Bald Knob’,
Clematis viticaulis grows on slightly more calciferous shale.
What the shale looks like where Clematis viticaulis grows.
The Baltic Border
BED 15
Nothing in bloom
The Founder’s Garden
Clematis patens ‘Manshu-Ki’ WADA’S PRIMROSE in the Founder’s Garden.
BED 16
‘Clochette Pride’ (two specimens), ‘Warwickshire Rose’, ‘Vera’, C. macropetala ‘Wesselton’ (three specimens, all in the ground), C. macropetala ‘Mountaindale’ (in a container), ‘Moonlight’ (in a container), ‘Sharpie’, ‘Louise Rowe’, C. patens ‘Manshu-Ki’ WADA’S PRIMROSE, ‘Barbara Houser’, ‘Broughton Star’
Clematis ‘Sharpie’ was a chance seedling Brewster nurtured. Sharpie was his nickname, bestowed by soldiers who learned English from him in WWII. In a way, Brewster Rogerson named this one after himself.
Clematis macropetala ‘Mountaindale’ is a selection of the species named for the hamlet where the Rogerson Clematis Collection spent 18 years in containers at the nursery of Bob and Carol Gutmann, now retired.
The Steppe Garden
After a particular testing winter, ‘Mayleen’ shows itself to be one of the hardiest C. montana forms.
BED 17
This bed wraps around both sides of the old Gravenstein apple tree and includes the stock plants at the south end of the Test Garden.
‘Tsunami Child’, ‘Tetrarose’, ‘Mayleen’
Old Poland (the Polish Beds)
BED 18
Nothing in bloom
BED 19
Nothing in bloom
BED 20
‘Izydor’
The Beginner’s Garden
‘Guernsey Cream’ is starting from the ground up this year.
BED 21
‘Guernsey Cream’, ‘Markham’s Pink’
Let’s mention a couple of nice things about ‘Markham’s Pink’: sunproof color, blooms from the ground up, and reblooms easily.
BED 22
Nothing in bloom
The Hedges
BED 23
(Replanted in spring 2024 with Tasmannia lanceolata as the hedging; the Viburnum tinus was removed.)
‘Blue Dancer’, ‘Joe Zary’, ‘Dark Dancer’, C. alpina ‘Stolwijk Gold’
We look forward to this pairing maturing together: ‘Dark Dancer’ on the left and ‘Joe Zary’ on the right.
BED 24
This specimen of ‘Pauline’ cavorts through Acer palmatum ‘Green Cascade’
‘Pauline’ (three specimens), ‘Pink Swing’, ‘Propertius’
‘Pink Swing’ was bred in Poland by Szczepan Marczynski’. It has proved to be especially tough in our climate and soil.
Test Garden
Nothing in bloom
Winter Bloomer Garden
Our winter bloomers were hard hit this winter, after days of cold dry wind with lows of 15F and highs of 20F. They are all rebounding with fresh foliage now, and have been pruned to 3-4’ tall.
TerracE
Nothing in bloom
Greenhouse Stumpery
Nothing in bloom
Chicken Coop Border
Contains an extension of our Japanese clematis collection (species and hybrids)
Beautiful little ‘Utsusemi’ is a cross with the sun and shale loving C. coactilis.
‘Utsusemi’ is a charming herbaceous perennial for a sunny border or gravel garden.
‘Utsusemi’, ‘Freda’
Troughs
Nothing in bloom
Subtropical Shade Porch
The plants have been moved outside for the spring and summer.
The Antipodes
This area was hard hit by the brutal weather we had this winter. C. marmoraria is sending up new shoots, but we do not believe it will bloom.
CONTAINER DISPLAY AREA
This area, between the Bob and Carol Gutmann Greenhouse and The Antipodes will be increasingly populated by a display/demonstration area for growing clematis in containers. We imagine a continually changing, slowly evolving space where those with small gardens will find suggestions and inspiration. Seating is coming soon, too! The broad pale green bowl in the container area will be used to make floating arrangements of clematis.
Nothing in bloom
The Egg
Nothing in bloom
Artist James Harrison donated a handsome structure he created using the proportions of a Fabergé egg; hence we call it The Egg. It occupies the round foundation of the long-gone Luscher Farm silo. The cottage garden herbaceous perennials and volunteer annuals (the sunflowers are full of American Goldfinches nearly all day, every day) make a mad display at the feet of the clematis climbing The Egg through the spring and summer.
In 2022 we altered the clematis planting to include some of the magical hybrids and species selections made by the late Ton Hannink, a past president of the International Clematis Society. What better memorial to the man than his plants?
Mr. Western Bluebird is a frequent percher on The Egg, reminding humans that the mealworm feeder is a thing that exists and always needs replenishing.