Freckles Winter Clematis

Freckles Winter Clematis (Clematis cirrhosa 'Freckles') is an evergreen climber that flowers when almost nothing else does, from late autumn through winter. It climbs 3 to 4m and carries nodding cream bells, heavily speckled maroon-red inside, against glossy ferny leaves. Silky seed heads follow the flowers.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers in winter. The bells open from late autumn and keep coming through the coldest months.
• Freckled inside. Each cream flower is densely spotted with maroon-red on the inside, best seen from below.
• Evergreen and fine-leaved. The glossy, ferny foliage makes a good cover on its own, and often bronzes in cold weather.
• Little pruning. It needs only a tidy after flowering, with none of the hard annual pruning some clematis require.
• Winter food for bees. Bees visit the flowers on mild winter days.

Where it works best

Arches and doorways. Train it over an arch, porch or pergola you walk beneath, so you look up into the speckled bells.

Sheltered fences and walls. Grow it on wires or trellis on a warm, protected fence. Space plants about 2m apart for full cover.

Courtyards. One plant on an obelisk or trellis panel gives winter interest in a small space.

Growing Freckles Winter Clematis in Australia

Position and climate. Sun to part shade in a sheltered position, out of cold wind, which damages the winter flowers. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean climates and is not a plant for the humid subtropics or tropics. It tolerates frost, though open flowers can mark in a severe one.

Soil. Well-drained soil is essential, as it dislikes wet ground in winter. Dig in compost and keep the root zone shaded and mulched.

Water and feed. Water regularly through the first two years. Established plants cope with fairly dry summers. Feed in autumn as growth resumes, and again lightly after flowering.

Pruning. This is a group 1 clematis, which flowers on the previous season's growth. Simply tidy it after flowering, removing dead or tangled stems and shortening any that have outgrown the space. Do not cut it hard in late winter or you remove the flowers.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Freckles Winter Clematis in 200mm pots in packs of 6. It may rest and look sparse in a hot summer, going semi-dormant and dropping some leaves, then grow away strongly in autumn. Have a support ready, handle the brittle stems gently and plant with the root ball shaded. Our growers do not hold every size all year, so a size can show as on backorder at times. An order for a backorder size is confirmed with you before anything ships.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse our climbers
• Plants for cool climates
• Flowering plants for every season
• The best plants to soften fences and retaining walls

Common questions

Why does it look tired in summer?

It grows and flowers in the cool months and can go semi-dormant in summer heat, thinning out for a while. Keep it lightly watered and it returns to growth in autumn.

When do I prune it?

Straight after flowering, in late winter or early spring, and only lightly. It needs no regular pruning beyond a tidy.

Is it safe for pets?

No. All clematis are irritant and toxic if eaten, so plant it away from pets that chew foliage.