Wei Ling Xian (Clematis chinensis)

Wei Ling Xian (Clematis chinensis)
(c) 林建融, all rights reserved, uploaded by 林建融

At a glance

Exposure
Full sun
Frost limit
−23.3 °C

Cultivation

Prefers a deep moist soil with its roots in the shade and its shoots growing up to the light. When planting out, in order to avoid the disease 'clematis wilt', it is best to plant the rootball about 8cm deeper in the soil. This will also serve to build up a good root crown of growth buds. A twining plant. Plants flower in the autumn on the current season's growth, any pruning is best carried out in the spring before new growth begins. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes. The flowers are often damaged by winter cold.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for the first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Internodal cuttings of soft to semi-ripe wood, late spring in sandy soil in a frame. Layering of old stems in late winter or early spring. Layering of current seasons growth in early summer.

Edible uses

Young shoots - cooked. It is quite probable that cooking destroys the acrimonious principle, though this is a plant that I have no desire to eat[K].

Medicinal uses

The root is anodyne, antidote, antiperiodic, antispasmodic, carminative, diuretic and sedative. The whole plant is antirheumatic. The root contains anemonin, this has antibacterial, analgesic, sedative and antispasmodic actions. It also inhibits the heart and central nervous system and is rubefacient.

Habitat

Open woods, hedges, thickets, roadsides and banks of streams.

Native range

E. Asia - C. and W. China.

Same genus