Linda Beutler grows a great number of plants on a simple city lot in Portland, Oregon. She was a professional florist for more than 20 years, and her first love in her own garden was growing flowers and foliage for cutting. Her focus changed when she purchased her first clematis as a misnamed plant. Her personal collection of this genus now numbers 300 separate species and cultivars. Her passion for clematis led to the publication of her first book, Gardening with Clematis.
She is one of two vice presidents of the International Clematis Society. She was a founding member of the Friends of the Rogerson Clematis Collection in 2003, and served on their board of directors until July 2007 when she was named the collection’s first curator.
Linda has been an instructor of horticulture at Clackamas Community College for 12 years. She teaches on herbaceous perennials and "The Flower Arranger’s Garden". In 2007 Timber Press published her second book, Garden to Vase, on growing and using your own cut flowers, which was written with gardeners, not florists, in mind.
She lectures on numerous gardening topics, and is a garden writer for publications including Fine Gardening, Pacific Horticulture and Birdwatcher’s Digest.
Timber Press: You are currently President of the Pacific Northwest Clematis Society and on the governing council of the International Clematis Society — you obviously have a deep affection for these plants — where did this love begin?
Linda Beutler: As described in the introduction to my book, my first sentient encounter with a clematis was with a misnamed plant, and the subsequent research revealed to me that a whole large group of clematis are not vines at all, but are herbaceous perennials. A budding fascination was flamed into passion when I met and made friends with Brewster Rogerson, North America's preeminent collector of the genus. He is a retired professor of English, making him a brilliant writer, and he is generous enough to share his knowledge and experience with all who show genuine interest in the genus. I am honored to volunteer at his collection every week (when I should be working in my own!).
TP: Why should gardeners use clematis in their gardens?
LB: I cannot think of a more versatile genus of plants than clematis. It is amazing to me that the taxonomists are still lumping them all together! There are species native to every continent except Antarctica, so there is a vine or perennial for any garden, in any hardiness zone, in nearly any color. We are blessed in the Pacific Northwest that we can have clematis in bloom nearly year 'round, but in a genus spanning the globe, there is truly something for everyone.
TP: What are some of the most important things a gardener needs to know before adding clematis to their garden?
LB: Most gardeners are first enamored of the showy large-flowered hybrids, but these plants can be initially challenging. Starting with older, tried and true cultivars, such as Clematis 'Jackmanii', or starting with the nearly indestructible hybrids of C. viticella, will give gardeners early success. Brand new cultivars of large-flowered hybrids still tend to join us from overseas (Europe or Japan), and have usually not been garden-tested in the U.S. before being offered for sale. Common clematis are common for good reason.
TP: What advice do you give someone looking to add clematis to their garden for the first time?
LB: Clematis as a group are not drought tolerant. Large-flowered hybrids tolerate shade better than is generally thought. Clematis are heavy feeders, but never fertilize them when they are just about to flower. Clematis need to be well watered in free draining soil; there is only one species that tolerates wet feet. Search out some of our North American native species; they are not large-flowered, but they have long periods of bloom and are reliable garden plants (C. crispa, C. pitcherii, C. viorna). Something I have come to notice is that clematis really like tomato fertilizers containing magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts), especially clematis grown in containers.
TP: In your book you talk about paring clematis. What are some of your favorite pairings and why?
LB: Here in the Northwest we grow so many rhododendrons, and I love to see gardeners combining these with clematis. It is easy to find clematis that will flower in May with the rhody, and then rebloom in late summer/fall to give the garden some interest when the rhody is just sitting there looking dumpy. In the Midwest, lilacs are the shrubs that need summer interest added to them. I like to use clematis chronologically as well as for making color marriages. In California, which in many ways has a better climate for roses that we do here in the "Rose City", repeating clematis that don't get too large are well paired with repeating roses. In the Southeast, hydrangeas and clematis are a great summer duet. And, all of my favorite North American native clematis come from the American Southeast. Lucky dogs! They should grow more of them!
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