A new cultivar of Clematis named &#8216;Snow Valley&#8217; that is characterized by a compact habit, fernlike foliage and a profuse display of cream-white female flowers in spring. In combination these traits set &#8216;Snow Valley&#8217; apart from all other existing varieties of Clematis known to the inventor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Clematis that is grown for use as a sub-shrub for the landscape. The new cultivar is known botanically as a Clematis cartmanii and will be referred to hereinafter by the cultivar name Snow Valley .

Snow Valley resulted from a formal breeding program. The inventor bred Snow Valley in 1994 by induced hybridization between the pollen parent Clematis Avalanche (unpatented) and the seed parent Clematis White Cascade (unpatented). The cross was conducted in a cultivated area of Hampshire, England and Snow Valley was selected based on the criteria of compact habit and female sexuality. Snow Valley is a hybrid and exhibits short internodes and a profusion of cream-white flowers, along with finely dissected green foliage with grey-purple markings.

The closest comparison plant is Clematis cartmanii Early Sensation (unpatented). Snow Valley is distinguishable from the comparison plant by its pronounced compact habit. At maturity Snow Valley is 0.3 meters in height and 0.5 meters in width. Snow Valley differs from the parent plants Avalanche and White Cascade in vigor, internode length, finely dissected leaves, and flower size. White Cascade and Avalanche grow 10-16 cm. in a season. Snow Valley is less vigorous, growing 5-6 cm. in a season. The internode length of Snow Valley is 3-4 cm. This is less than White Cascade and Avalanche , which exhibit internodes that are 10-16 cm. in length. The leaves of Snow Valley are finely dissected. Snow Valley exhibits flowers that are 3-4.25 cm. in diameter, whereas Avalanche exhibits flowers that are 7-8 cm. in diameter and White Cascade exhibits flowers that are 5.50-7 cm. in diameter.

The first asexual propagation of Snow Valley , was accomplished by the inventor, in 1997 in a cultivated area of Hampshire, England. The method of propagation used was semi-ripe nodal stem cuttings. Since that time, under careful observation, the distinguishing characteristics have been determined stable and uniform and true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Clematis cultivar Snow Valley . In combination these traits set Snow Valley apart from all other existing varieties of Clematis known to the inventor. Snow Valley has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, however, without any variance in genotype.

1. Clematis Snow Valley is an evergreen sub-shrub.

2. Clematis Snow Valley produces female flowers.

3. Clematis Snow Valley exhibits a compact habit.

4. Clematis Snow Valley exhibits finely dissected green foliage with grey-purple markings.

5. Clematis Snow Valley exhibits short internodes.

6. Clematis Snow Valley produces a profusion of cream-white flowers in spring.

7. Clematis Snow Valley is 0.30 meters in height and 0.50 meters in width at maturity.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the Clematis cultivar named Snow Valley . Data was collected in Arroyo Grande, Calif. from plants that were grown in an unheated greenhouse with minimum night temperatures of minus 6 Centigrade. The young plants were 9-months-old and in 10 cm. containers and the mature plants were 18-months-old and in one-liter containers at the time. Color determinations are in accordance with The 2001 Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The growing requirements are similar to the species.

Parentage: Snow Valley is a hybrid resulting from the induced hybridization of the following parent plants: Seed parent: Clematis White Cascade . Pollen parent: Clematis Avalanche .

Time to initiate rooting: 6-8 weeks are needed to produce roots on an initial cutting.

Temperature to initiate rooting: 15 to 21 Centigrade air temperature.

Crop time: 12 to 15 months are needed to produce a finished one-liter container from a rooted cutting.

Stem color. A combination of 147A and N187A.

Leaf apex. Acute at tips of lobes.

Leaf texture. Fine and fern-like.

Petiole color. A combination of N144C and 137A.

Leaf margin. Lobed with each lobe margin entire.

Young leaf color on adaxial and abaxial surfaces ( 10 cm. container ). A combination of 187A and 137A.

Mature leaf dimensions ( in one - liter container ). 3 cm. in length and 3 cm. in width.

Mature leaf color on adaxial and abaxial surfaces ( in one - liter container ). A combination of 147A and N187B.

Color of peduncle. A combination of 144A and N187A.

Dimensions of flower. 2 cm. in height and 3-4.25 cm. in diameter.

Aspect. Facing outward and downward.

Tepals. Six to eight in number.

Dimensions of subtending bracts. 6 mm. in length and 3 mm. in width.

Blooming period. March to April.

Quantity of flowers. Approximately 10 per inflorescence.

Rudimentary stamens. 15 inserted below base of ovary.

Style shape. Elongated and plumose.

Number of seeds. Approximately 22 seeds per fruit.

Seed shape. Closest to lunate.