clematis: sexy seedheads, but where’s the seed?
TALK ABOUT A CURIOSITY ITEM: The seedheads of certain Clematis certainly qualify as botanical oddballs. Did you ever wonder, as I did today passing by the ripening ones on my Clematis tangutica, just which part in each of those wild wig-hats* is the seed itself?
The British Clematis Society’s seedhead page makes it all very clear, should the thought of propagating vines from seed–or just a deeper desire to understand what is going on outdoors, which is what always gets to me–cross your mind. Follow each of those feathery tails (the strands of silky stuff) down to the base of the puffball, and you’ll usually find the beginning of a seed. Those in the picture aren’t ripe yet, in case you’re wondering. Still too shiny.
(*Or maybe you’re just wondering what a wig-hat is? Don’t ask me; I learned the phrase from Tommy Tucker’s much-covered 1964 Number 1 single. It’s apparently something you wear with “High-Heel Sneakers,” as the tune was titled. My Clematis didn’t read the entire dress code, but I’m pretty sure those are wig-hats on its heads.)
I have quite a few clematis growing on my fences & arbor, and I’ve collected many of their seeds over the years. I’ve never had any luck getting them to germinate. If anyone has some advice to share, I’d love to know the secret.
Those are pretty silky balls of flowers. I have no clue about the seeds.
Same here! I’ve had no luck.
@Sharon and Pat: Try the info on this British Clematis Society page about growing from seed, and also review the info on this other page about how to tell whether seed is truly ripe yet.
My sweet autumn clematis looks similar but this one looks a bit nicer. I loved it in flower and I’m trying to think of a spot for one next year. Hopefully by time spring rolls around I will remember this post!
Margaret–
Your writing cracks me up! The word sexy should be tossed around more in the gardening circle–thanks for throwing it out there today. I did a blog post on sexy ferns and kind of wondered if I was the only one out there that thought plants were in any way sexy. Now I see that I’m in good company. You’re hysterical and oh-so-informative at the same time. Shouldn’t we all have this much fun when we write? You keep writing. I’ll keep reading. Thanks!
I’ve never tried to start clematis from seed, but I have 8 or 10 clematis babies around my Arctic Queen clematis. It must be an easy one to start from seed. I’m growing these seedlings on to see if they do come true. They might be some weird cross between A. Queen and Bee Jubilee or Betty Corning.
I agree, seedheads are sexy! If you start a sexy seedheads club, let me know! How about a sexy seedheads book? Have you seed sesame seed pods, cotton, okra? Super sexy. I nominate poppies, nigella, honesty, and radish to the club as well.
These remind me of Phyllis Diller’s hats.
Or Phillis Diller’s HAIR! HA!
Wig hats! I remember them. They were a sort of spiky, acrylic hat that looked a little like hair – very shaggy and rather out-of-control hair. I had one back in 1962 and wore it at least for that winter in SW New York state. We had rough winters up there and you HAD to wear a hat, even a weird hat, if you wanted to have ears by the time the school bus trundled by to pick you up at 7:15 AM in sub-zero weather.
Never did figure out where you could buy high-heeled sneakers though. Maybe the city kids knew but for rural kids, a hat that looked like a wig was the next best thing.
My white, small-flowered Autumn Clematis self sows regularly, but only from those seeds that have passed through a winter’s freeze and thaw cycles. Ihave shared many with friends. I never had any luck collecting fresh seed and germinating them, inside or out. Once they have gotten stuck in a crevice somewhere and experienced a winter outside, they seem willing to germinate.
Zone 6, Southeastern PA
Thanks Margaret. The only info in my plant propagation books said that some species require cold and some require both heat and cold, without saying which. Big help. Guess that’s why WakingDream has Autumn babie. Mine has never produced babies though.
I found a half dozen or so little clematis coming up in my neighbor’s lawn, about 10 feet away from my clematis. He let me dig them up; I’m so geeked to see if they keep growing !
Sweet, Mary! I can’t recall ever having one self-sow here, though I do get loads of seed on some varieties.
Would love to know how they are doing. I to live in pa and my clemetis had its best year ever. 6 flowers and reached a hight of about 8 feet up the side of my house. It’s about 4 years old bought from a big box store.
Old Man’s Beard doesn’t work for me as a ideal name for clematis seedpods, but Wighat is perfect! Thank you.
(For this and all other blessings you have provided. And congratulations about being honored by the Garden Club of America….)