Family Ranunculaceae.
Originating from China.
- Nodding, bell-shaped, yellow flowers cover the vine in summer.
- Attractive, silky seedheads follow the flowers into autumn.
- Vigorous climber with fine, ferny green foliage.
The Yellow Flowering Clematis in Your Garden
A late summer feast of sublime and elegant, pendulous yellow buds, as Chinese lanterns open with gracefully recurved, pointed tips. Abundant and riotous, this clematis species makes an impressive, large specimen with a spectacular display of flowers. Its seed heads add another dimension to its display, lasting into winter.
Fully hardy in all UK gardens, it reaches 4–6m tall and wide in one season. Its vigour can be controlled by pruning back to ground level in winter. Light summer pruning of wayward stems can extend the flowering season and keep it in check. Its brilliant display is equally at home in traditional Norfolk gardens and Suffolk’s exotic planting schemes.
The intricate details of both its flowers and seed heads warrant close-up viewing. As the petals fully open, they reveal a slender cluster of long, dusky-burgundy stamens. They make a perfect contrast with the bright flowers. Silky seed heads form quickly after the flowers, so both seeds and flowers can be present on the plant.
Growing Tips for Your ‘Orange Peel’, Clematis tangutica
- Soil and sun: any non-acidic, well-drained soil that is not heavy and wet in winter, in full sun or light shade.
- Planting: at any time of year. Never plant a dry plant! Plunge the pot to thoroughly drench the rootball before planting.
- Watering: Water regularly during its first two summers. Once established, it is drought-tolerant.
- Pruning: Prune hard in late winter or early spring, cutting back to 15–30cm above ground level. Light pruning to control its growth during the season is possible. Only selected growth should be cut, as it will flower later. Trimming the whole plant will limit its flowering display.
A vigorous yellow flowering clematis species from China, it is valued for its long flowering season and attractive seedheads. It is easy to grow and reliable in British gardens, often flowering when many other clematis have finished. Its nodding yellow bells and silky seedheads make it a lovely choice for covering walls, fences and pergolas.
