Sow Library: Clematis

Clematis by Christopher Lloyd

I picked this book up in a National Trust second hand book shop. Anyone who is a National Trust visitor will know that some of their destinations have these on site, and are (in my opinion) an absolute gold mine of vintage books for sometimes as little as £1.

FIG I. Clematis Troubles by Christopher Lloyd

A good cover is generally what pulls me in when looking at endless rows of second hand books and this did not disappoint. The jacket is a painting by artist Yvonne Skargon and shows the most beautifully illustrated display of clematis - one of my favourite flowers.

If you’re not familiar with Christopher Lloyd, his home where he gardened and wrote was Great Dixter which is a gardener’s paradise and open to the public in Sussex, England. They also have a nursery, which is frankly dangerous!

The joy of this book is that you can read it as well as reference it. From detailed descriptions of the different types of clematis to tips on growing, pruning and propagation.

“Every gardener loves clematis. I have yet to meet a man or woman that was not attached to them”

I’m currently in the process of planning the planting for my very bare garden that’s being renovated into a more cohesive space. As we live in a terrace in London, a fence running around the edge of our garden is a must for any sort of privacy, so my plan is to cover it in trailing plants, and the clematis is one of them.

Thank to this book, I’ve learnt that they climb better amongst other things and generally won’t cling to a flat surface. So I’ve decided to grow them next to the roses we inherited, in the hopes this will encourage them to grow better together. As for variety, I now want about 25 different types, but I think I’ll start with 2 or 3 and see how we go from there.

FIG II. Descriptions of clematis - Christopher Lloyd

“Clematis have been grown in English gardens since at least the end of the sixteenth century”

I also love using clematis in my floral designs, and with such a vast amount of varieties they can be found in most seasons. The larger flowering types tend to be in Spring & Summer, which means we are in the perfect window for some bigger varieties.