New Zealand contains many beautiful (and beautifully-scented) species of Clematis, a genus well represented throughout the world. The New Zealand Clematis species are so distinct that they have now been ranked (by the world's leading Clematis expert, Magnus Johnson) as a separate section of the genus. The flowers of all species are either white, greenish-yellow or yellow, a colour range that is representative of many New Zealand plants. This is, most probably, related to the composition of New Zealand's insect flora; New Zealand has a lack of specialised insect pollinators.

Clematis spp. 'climb' through a physiological function called haptotropism, by which the tendrils of the plant bend towards an external stimulus upon contact with it. This happens over the course of minutes, and further bending occurs, as the first point of contact ensures further contact with the outside stimulus, resulting in the characteristic coiling of the climber's tendrils.

Clematis paniculata
Puawhananga

Puawhananga ('flower of the skies'), the most popular of our native Clematis species, adorns the upper layer of our native bush, trailing up forest trees and providing a remarkable spring display of white flowers. It is extremely free-flowering and will flower relatively soon after propagation, making it a valuable ornamental plant. It is endemic to New Zealand (i.e. found nowhere else in the world), as are all our species of Clematis. The New Zealand species of Clematis are dioecious (bearing male and female organs on separate plants), which is significant for garden usage as the male plants generally bear larger, finer flowers. Clematis paniculata, like many other New Zealand plants, has distinct juvenile and adult stages.

C. paniculata must be treated as a true forest plant in cultivation, and given conditions similar to its natural habitat. Like many other Clematis spp., it requires a cool root run, plenty of humus around its base and consistent moisture. Puawhananga should be trained up a medium-sized to tall tree to achieve the best effect.

It was traditionally a harbinger of spring to Maori, for whom it was also connected with the harvest of eels, a spring event. Puawhananga and whauwhaupaku (Pseudopanax arboreus) were the children of Rehua (the star Antares) and Puanga (the star Rigel in Orion), and their task was to announce the coming warmth of summer - which Rehua (who also represented the forest itself) represented. It flowers from August to November, and is found throughout New Zealand in lowland and lower montane forests. It was first collected on Cook's second voyage, by the German botanist Johannes Foerster.

Clematis foetida
Scented Clematis

This scented Clematis species presents masses of small, creamy flowers in spring. It is hardly grown, but deserves to be more widely cultivated, although the difficulty involved in procuring plants is currently inhibitive to wider use. It grows in open situations and on forest margins throughout lowland forests of the North and South Islands. It is a smaller-growing plant than Clematis paniculata, climbing to the tops of small trees, or scrambling through filiramulate (otherwise known as divaricate) shrubs, in the areas where it occurs. It is recorded as growing locally in the forest of the Hunua Ranges.

Clematis forsteri

Clematis forsteri often grows through filiramulate shrubs on our rocky coastline, from whom it receives the shelter and structural support that it requires for growth. It is found in lowland forest (particularly in forest margins) in the central-southern North Island and northern reaches of the South Island. C. forsteri is often found in very difficult conditions within nature, making it one of the best species for gardens in the northern and central parts of New Zealand. I have viewed a particularly good population, growing on cliffs in coastal bush in the spectacular limestone landscapes of the south side of Kawhia harbour. In several spots, the plants were growing in very shallow, sun-drenched soil, similar to the conditions found in many urban gardens.

Clematis forsteri The flowers (which can vary in colour from a greenish-cream to a pale yellow, depending on the propagation source) appear in October and November, and are borne on the previous year's wood. The scented flowers are followed with fluffy seedheads. It can grow to 3 - 3.5m, although it is generally more compact in native coastal vegetation. It, like all New Zealand Clematis spp., is dioecious, but (atypically) there are only slight differences in the size and fineness of male and female flowers. It derives its name from the botanist Johannes Foerster, who was an early European visitor to our shores, accompanying Captain Cook on one of his voyages to New Zealand. This species of Clematis is becoming increasingly known overseas with Clematis enthusiasts, but is almost unknown in New Zealand.

It should be noted here that the plant formerly known as Clematis hookeriana is now recognised as being part of the variable C. forsteri species. That form is a particularly worthwhile plant for inclusion in gardens, on account of its resilience to wind, drought and other adverse conditions. This is due to its natural habitat, the shorelines of Cook Strait, where it is subjected to extreme coastal conditions. It has quite green, small flowers, with more finely dissected foliage than other forms of C. forsteri.

New Zealand has six other species of native Clematis, all of which are also suited to garden use (in differing applications). They are Clematis afoliata, C. cunninghamii, C. marata, C. marmoraria, C. petriei, and C. quadribracteolata. Profiles of some of these species will be added to the website in the future.