[gobs]

Would anyone recognise this as a known variety?  It is a 3-year old seedling that turned up in my garden. It's flowering now and I don't grow any that look like it, flowering this time of year.

[jennyb]

what are the inside of the flowers like?

the outside edge colour looks a bit like our "star of india".  but then we have another that is a similar colour out the front too.

the different is the inside of the petals.

[mrs bouquet]

is the flower at the back of the picture the same plant and did the front one open right out, if so what size did it open to?  Mrs Bouquet

[mrs bouquet]

Star of India has carmine red bars and beige stamens.  Its flowers are
normally 4 to 6" in diameter.  Its flowering months are June to September.
I have got some other ideas, if you can tell me more.  Mrs Bouquet

[gobs]

Yes, in that photo you can see tight buds, fully formed buds, opening bud and almost fully opened flower. It is small, about 2 cm, buds are half a cm and thin, anther rather greenish than creamy white.

[mrs bouquet]

OK Gobs, thanks for the pic and info.  I think what you have got is a Viticella which will flower July to September.  She has small purple flowers about 1 to 1.1/2 inches, so that sounds about the size.  Many of the Viticellas have greenish stamen,  so that sounds about right.  Also the leaf shape is an indicator.  This clematis group is similar to the montanas but not so invasive, their maximum height being 10 to 12 feet.  All Viticellas grow on new wood, so they should be pruned back to 2 strong buds late Feb/march.  You can leave unpruned and it will still flower but will become rather leggy and bare at the base.   Please don't tell me off if somebody has a better idea.  Good luck.  Mrs Bouquet.  PS: if you leave it unpruned, give it a good annual feed after flowering.

[gobs]

Thanks, Mrs B. No mystery then, I hoped I was nurturing one of my own seedlings, no chance.

They are very pretty though... gotta find room.