International
Clematis
SocietyWelcome to all Clematis Lovers
Clematis International 2025
I am finally making quite good progress with our next journal, Clematis International 2025 and hope to have it ready for proof reading in 2 - 3 weeks time. Once that is complete, it goes to our printer. It looks like a substantial issue this year, with around 200 pages, possibly a few more. I have one major problem. There are still a lot of members who have not yet renewed their membership for 2025, in spite of several specific email reminders. The number is sufficient that, if it doesn't reduce significantly, I cannot justify ordering enough copies for everyone on the membership list. This means that if you don't renew by the time the journal goes to print, there may not be a printed copy of the journal for you! You have been warned.
Clematis Fly
In Clematis International 2023, starting on page 65, members can read an article by Klaus Körber about the Clematis Fly. This insect lays eggs in the buds of clematis, in particular viticella type clematis (believed to be because of the time of the year when the buds form). The larvae hatch and eat their way out, disfiguring the flower as they do so. This pest has been present in Europe for over 10 years. Klaus also spoke about it at a webinar on 27th February 2023 which was recorded and is available to be viewed by Members of the Society. Fiona (our secretary and my wife) was upset when she discovered her viticellas had been attacked for the first time this year in the UK. The treatment is to cut the plant down to below the level of buds and, hopefully, it will grow again and have flowers later this year. Next year she says she'll use a spray a couple of times when the buds start to appear, around the end of April / beginning of May. As far as we are aware this pest has not spread to USA, Japan, China, Australia or New Zealand. We welcome information from anyone if they believe that they have experienced it in these countries. Thank you.
2026 Society Meeting
I'm pleased to report that planning for a meeting of the Society in 2026 is proceeding at pace. Linda Beutler and Jeff Jabco are working on a plan based on southern England and the Isles of Guernsey and Sark. The focus will be on the history and future of Clematis with visits to some historic clematis gardens and the nursery and clematis breeding operation of I.Cl.S. founder, Raymond Evison. The specific dates and details are not yet available, however they have advised that members hold the period from 22 June 2026 through to 6 July 2026 free for a 6-7 day event. The Society visited Guernsey once before, in 1999. It was a very short visit but we managed to do a lot while we were there. There are a few photos of some of the places we visited in our Past Events section, specifically Guernsey 1999, though the photos are quite small due to the speed limitations of internet communications available at that time. The Society hopes to release further details early this autumn.
Clematis Weekend in Germany in September 2025
As has been mentioned, Benedikt Herian, Brigitte Niemela and Wim Snoeijer are organizing a weekend meeting in Unterliezheim, Germany in September 2025. Please note, this is completely independent of this Society, although they are all members. A third information sheet has now been produced and is available here by clicking on Clematis Meeting Unterliezheim 2025 - Information Sheet 3. The previous information sheets are still available, please click on Clematis Meeting Unterliezheim 2025 - Information Sheet 1 or Clematis Meeting Unterliezheim 2025 - Information Sheet 2.
Members Seed Exchange 2024 - 25
Seed distribution continues to those members who have requested some. We are having some problems sending seed to our seed coordinator in the EU. Please be patient, we are doing all we can to get to the bottom of the problem. The Society says a huge "Thank You" to the three Seed Exchange Administrators who work hard every year - Mike Miller (USA/Canada), Ingrid Kastell (EU-Sweden), and Guy Opie (Great Britain).The International Clematis Registrar, The International Clematis Register and Checklist 2002, and Supplements
The Society fully endorses the work of the International Clematis Registrar, The International Clematis Register and Checklist 2002 and the seven supplements published so far. We recommend all clematis lovers use them and adhere to standards they describe. A reminder that all supplements as well as The International Clematis Register and Checklist 2002, are available online. In line with the continued expansion of internet usage and with an eye to reducing paper usage and cost, it is suggested that you download them for free from the RHS website, just visit https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/plantsmanship/plant-registration/clematis-registration/clematis. The Society also strongly recommends that all Clematis breeders, both professionals and amateurs, register your Clematis cultivars with the Registrar to continue to keep the International Clematis Register up to date. If you want a copy of the form, use the link above and click on the Registration tab.
International Clematis Society on Social Media
The Society has a presence on the social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram. On both of these you will find updates on what's happening in our garden in the UK as well as clematis news from other members. All you need do is click on either of the two logos below.
Recommended Clematis
The Society's Clematis for Beginners List is now Recommended Clematis, reflecting the wider usefulness of this set of clematis cultivars for all clematis growers around the world. It was reviewed and revised during our meeting in Devon and Cornwall in 2015. It is available online and also as a downloadable version from our Recommended Clematis section, in Dutch, English, French, German and Swedish. All the clematis on the list are easy to grow, easy to look after and resistant to common pests and diseases, and whilst there are no absolute guarantees where gardening is concerned, most people should have success with all of these. Because space is not so much of a problem, the online version of the list now contains more information about each clematis featured within it, along with a simple menu bar to let you see each group and then pick the clematis you're interested in. The downloadable version (no illustrations as yet, I'm afraid) is very suitable for taking with you when you visit your local nursery or garden centre!
Journal Index of Clematis References
A reminder of a facility which I'm sure many of you will find most useful - an index of references to all the clematis mentioned in the journals of the Society, both in the text and as pictures. I am indebted to Ton Hannink for all the work he has put into producing the first issue of this index. The index currently covers the years 2005 - 2014 inclusive. Further years will be added as they are completed. Whilst it is quite a large document, some 29 pages, it is not a particularly large file to download should you wish, just under 220 Kbytes. You can find it by visiting the Previous Journals page.
RHS Clematis Catalogue Collection
The Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain holds a collection of Nursery Catalogues and have been keen to add to it. A number of years ago the Society was asked to canvas our members for any Clematis Nursery catalogues which they had and would donate to the collection, which we did. Quite a few have been donated so far. Whilst he was the International Clematis Registrar, Duncan Donald extracted a list of catalogues from Clematis Specialists which are currently within the collection and a list of catalogues which feature clematis, but under such headings as "climbing plants" or "climbers". You can find them at RHS Clematis Catalogue Collection and RHS Climbers and Climbing Plant Catalogue Collection. Links to both these files can also be found via the "Information, Answers and Questions" link on the left of this page. The Society has asked where further donated catalogues should be sent. As soon as we have this information it will be publish here.
Nursery Membership
The Society offers a second category of membership - Nursery Membership. So far we have been very pleased with the support that many nurseries have given by renewing as Nursery Members. We thank them all. These Nursery Members can be found on a special Nursery Members page on this website. The Society hopes you will recognize that, as members of this Society, these Nursery Members have a particular interest, knowledge and love of clematis and can be expected to provide a range and quality of plants, and informed knowledge, not usually available in non-specialist outlets. Please check this page regularly for additions. Whilst it is now too late for your nursery details to be included in Clematis International 2011, any further Nursery Memberships will be published on this website as they are received and also in the List of Members when it is reissued at the beginning of next year.
Trialing New Clematis
An example of a Clematis Trial contract, mentioned in the article in Clematis International 2008 about trialing new clematis by well-known clematis breeder, Wim Snoeijer, can be downloaded by visiting the A.O.B. (Any Other Business) page accessible from our Information, Answers and Questions section.
General Data Protection Regulation - GDPR
This Regulation applies to all organizations, large and small, that store personal data of EU and UK citizens electronically. A draft Privacy Policy was drawn up and discussed at a previous Council Meeting. We are still working on modifications and amendments. Once completed and the resulting document is agreed by your Council, it will be released to all members and posted in this website. The Society is committed to complying with this regulation. Should any member have any questions or concerns regarding it, please contact our designated Data Controller, Ken Woolfenden.
And finally ....
The ethos of the Internet is to be an open forum for ideas, views and opinions. Sites should encourage visitors to link to other sites, it's a two-way process. So if you've got a few moments, why not look at our Clematis Links page and follow up one or two. You may find a lot more than you were expecting!For any non-members visiting this site, have you considered joining the Society? With plans for some very interesting meetings over the next few years there couldn't be a better time. For details, visit our How to Join page.
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