It is always a race here to see which clematis will bloom first, and this year it was like the Kentucky Derby. Several early blooming large flowered hybrids shot up quickly and budded out, but in the home stretch it has been ‘Elsa Spaeth’ and ‘Omoshiro’ that have been neck and neck with no way to tell who would open first, until today the winner revealed itself…Omoshiro.

Omoshiro is a stunning , maybe even breathtaking clematis. It is one of those clematis that reminds me why I became so enamoured with this genus of plants a decade ago . The flowers can be up to 7 inches across and are sort of a pale gray and pink with much darker margins and reverse . The anthers are dark pink at the tips, white along the rest, and the overall effect is spectacular.  Last year was the first full season Omoshiro was in my garden so it bloomed sporadically , but each flower was worth the wait. this year it has had time to assimilate and it is vigorously growing and loaded with buds.

I have heard differing accounts of the meaning of the name. Some say fascinating, some say amusing, all say the two words “omo” and” shiro “mean ” surface” or” face” and “white” when translated from Japanese (where this clematis was bred by Hiroshi Hayakawa) . I like fascinating , it fits perfectly.

I bought mine from Brushwood nursery  www.gardenvines.com  in case you are interested in adding this one to your own collection.