Clematis is a climbing vine, after all
Click for better clarity.
Clematis drummondii is a vine, after all, so here’s a picture of it climbing on a cenizo bush, Leucophyllum frutescens, that was blossoming profusely in my neighborhood on July 28. Cenizo—also known paradoxically as Texas sage and purple sage even though it’s no kind of sage at all—is native in west and south Texas but has been widely planted elsewhere in the state because during the hot months of the year it typically puts forth several profuse rounds of flowers like the one isolated in this picture. I can be close to certain that the homeowner had arranged for the cenizo to be there, but not the Clematis drummondii that had clambered over it. The feathery tufts of the vine are still there two weeks after all the cenizo flowers fell away.
© 2013 Steven Schwartzman
Great photo, Steve. Clematis is a cultivated plant here in NY. Is it considered a wildflower in Texas?
oneowner
August 13, 2013 at 7:03 AM
I’ve learned that there are many species of Clematis, including cultivated European ones with showier flowers that the nursery trade sells. Clematis drummondii is indeed a wildflower here, along with two other native species.
Steve Schwartzman
August 13, 2013 at 8:15 AM
Good morning. In my yard is a honeysuckle bush. Each year about this time I see growth of Clematis terniflora covering it. Here is a picture from last year. I hope it links properly for you. http://bit.ly/16N96DO
Last year, it was so smothering, I pruned back much of the vine. It is hardy and will not be deterred.
Actually, I like the transformation from the orange honeysuckle to the matte of white small flowers. But, I don’t want them to take over completely.
Jim in IA
August 13, 2013 at 7:43 AM
I wasn’t familiar with Clematis terniflora but I looked it up and found that it’s originally from Asia. Your picture shows what you mean when you talk about it being smothering, and Wikipedia adds that it’s considered an invasive plant in some locations. Still, its flowers en masse are pretty.
Steve Schwartzman
August 13, 2013 at 9:04 AM
the terniflora is what i remember from my early years in mississippi. how magical it was to see the beautiful spans of white that sprawled across fences and old buildings or rambling roses! the fragrance was silky sweet, and the bees loved it! i have’t thought of that variety of.clematis in years, and i am grateful to have had a little waltz down memory lane from my vantage point down here on the equator! thanks! z
Playamart - Zeebra Designs
August 14, 2013 at 8:42 AM
From the southern state of Mississippi to the Southern Hemisphere (depending which side of the line you’re on in Ecuador), I’m glad you had a floral trip down memory lane. None of the three native species of Clematis in Austin have a scent, at least not that I’m aware of; I’ll have to do some sniffing.
Steve Schwartzman
August 14, 2013 at 10:18 AM
Quelle beauté Steve, j’adore les clématites et j’en ai plusieurs dans mon jardin mais celle-ci a un charme fou et que dire de ta photo, sinon qu’elle est parfaite.
chatou11
August 13, 2013 at 8:57 AM
Merci bien, Chantal. Je suis d’accord que cette espèce de clématite a un charme fou (et il y a des gens qui croient que moi aussi je suis fou).
Steve Schwartzman
August 13, 2013 at 9:09 AM
I love seeing the Barometer Bush get a little pub! It’s funny – about two or three weeks ago, I was getting hit after hit on the piece I wrote about the cenizo, although all of the search terms that brought people to my blog referenced “Barometer Bush”, “Texas sage”, “purple sage” or “purple flower that blooms when it rains”. Whoever imagined that search term clusters could be a sign of rain? 😉
It’s such a pretty plant. I like the Clematis drummondii as a background for a single bloom.
shoreacres
August 13, 2013 at 8:29 PM
I went back to your post, which readers can find at
http://shoreacres.wordpress.com/2011/07/21/trusting-the-barometer-bush/
and I noticed this sentence: “The blossoms… tend to appear in times of high humidity or after rain has left the soil damp and pliable – hence the name, Barometer Bush.” I’ve read about that claimed association with rain, or at least high humidity, and I’ve informally been checking to see how well it holds up. Sometimes it has held up, but other times I’ve observed cenizo flowering here with no rain before or after. As for humidity, it’s almost always high in Austin in the summer, whether the cenizo is flowering or not.
Still, your sentence may well be correct because you said that the blossoms tend to appear in times of high humidity or rain. I wonder if anyone has done a careful investigation to see what sort of correlation there is between cenizo flowers and humidity or rain.
Steve Schwartzman
August 14, 2013 at 6:36 AM
A very imaginative image, Steve
LensScaper
August 16, 2013 at 6:23 AM
A lensscape to your liking, I’m glad to hear.
Steve Schwartzman
August 16, 2013 at 8:07 AM
Absolutely!
LensScaper
August 16, 2013 at 9:05 AM
Great series!
Susan Scheid
August 28, 2013 at 9:12 PM
You’ve always been fond of series. When I taught math I dealt with other kinds of series, especially infinite ones.
Steve Schwartzman
August 28, 2013 at 9:50 PM