My Double Clematis 'Diamantina' has bloomed!
I have never had much luck growing clematis on the Texas Gulf Coast. They have died on mme no matter how much I baby them. Not sure if it was the salt air down there or the summer heat. But it's a bit milder up here in Central Texas and I've decided to give it one more try, this time with a double bloomer. The 3 blooms on the plant when purchased have since died/fallen off, but just yesterday it set it's very first bloom in it's new planter/trellis west fence location. It's getting light sun in the mornings that beams down my long driveway that leads up to this fence. Then it gets full sun from around 11am to 2pm and then the fence knocks off most of the hottest Texas sun in the late afternoon. I'm hoping the temperatures here in Summer won't be too much for it, but so far so good. But our days are quite a bit milder just now. It will be a very different, story come July, August and September. 
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It is great, congratulations ! I might be wrong, but I believe these large-flowered clemating behave differently in warmer climates, that is, they bloom sporadically but unpredictably.
Well done - thats lovely
Good news that you have a flower, Peggy. You are so lucky to have so many beautiful species of clematis growing wild in Texas, crispa, pitcheri, texensis, all much sought after by the anoraks of the clematis world
Thank you one and all. You know, Richard, I don't think I've ever seen a Clematis in any of our nurseries until this one. You'd think they would carry the native TX indigenous varieties. Perhaps in Austin, Houston or Waco. Haven't pursued it, but just might check out Waco next trip up there.
Last edited: 09 April 2017 19:57:38
Oh, I just Googled those 3 varieties, Richard and they are indeed enviable. I'll have to seek them out if this one will go for me.