Everything you need to know about

Clematis

Ah, the clematis – a true showstopper in the realm of cut flowers. Don’t underestimate this beauty, whilst it’s been in gardens for centuries it’s a relatively new cut flower. However, it’s increasing popularity and expanding selection of varieties means it gaining ever-more attention and rightly so.

Whether you’re a seasoned florist or a new enthusiast, this comprehensive guide will unfurl information that is new, interesting, and helpful in an easy to follow way.

So if you’re ready to immerse yourself in the fascinating facts and insights of the world of seemingly delicate cut clematis – let’s begin.

What we'll cover:

General Clematis Cut Flower Information

How it looks:

Clematis are a vision of elegance. They have an ethereal beauty and graceful charm about them that sets them apart in the world of cut flowers.

The captivating and seemingly delicate flower heads of the cut flower clematis are held on top of very narrow stems. It’s part of the character of the clematis that the uppermost part of the stem under the heads naturally holds it’s self downwards or to the side. The heads are made up of between four and 8 petals – depending on the variety. Whilst it’s the petals that draw attention, the centre of each flower reveals a striking burst of stamens, adding interest and texture.

Grouping of Clematis:

Whilst some cut flower clematis have 4 or 6 heads per stem, other varieties have one main single head (often with a couple of buds) they all classified within the one flower product group (for selling purposes).

The different number of heads per stem is illustrated well, not only in some of the variety images, but also in the example of stages of opening.

Tell me more about product groups

Group codes:
Whilst each flower and plant variety has it’s own product code they are classified into different product groups. Each product group has a separate VBN group code. Categorising plants and flowers into groups with similar characteristics, is helpful on many levels; grading criteria and checks, and recording statistical information being just a couple.

As an example:
Gerbera large flowered (grp 10100601) is a different group to Gerbera large flowered spider shaped (grp 10100607). Gerbera mini (grp 10100602) is a different group to Gerbera mini spider shaped (grp 10100608). Whilst each Gerbera group have many similar characteristics, they also have important differences, hence the different product groups.

Just some of the

Clematis Varieties

See Clematis in the Webshop

Clematis Amazing Havana

One flower per stem

Clematis Amazing Kiev

Four flower per stem

Clematis Amazing Star River

Multiple flowers per stem

Clematis Amazing Vienna

One flower per stem

Clematis Amazing Blue Pirouette

Four flower per stem

Clematis Amazing Kibo

One flower per stem

Clematis Amazing Miami

One flower per stem

There are currently 15 different varieties of commercial clematis cut flowers available, three of which are ‘fluff ball’ seed head varieties. Although new varieties are being developed all the time – so expect this number to increase!

Classification Names:

Family: Ranunculaceae

Genus: Clematis

Cut flower cultivar groups:

Diversifloia
Intergrifolia
Texensis

Common Names:

Traveller’s Joy
Virgin’s Bower
Old Man’s Beard
Love Vine

Pronunciation

Clematis are pronounced: KLEM-uh-tis

Fragrant:

No, commercial cut flower Clematis varieties are currently not fragrant.

Vase life:

← – 5 – 10 days – →

Available in these Colours:

Purple/Violet shades (deep purple, lavender, mauve, indigo)
Dark Pink shades (crimson, fuchsia)
Blush pink/lilac
White
Blue shades (indigo, navy, sky blue)
Bi-colour (Variety: Sevilla – creamy white colour on the inside and a burgundy pink colour on the outside petals)

Clematis availability throughout the year

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Many Clematis cut flower varieties are available throughout the entire year, however, some are not. Generally the greatest availability is from March through to October.

Natural Season:

Clematis are considered to be a (late Spring &) Summer flower.

Clematis Originated from:

Whilst there is some debate regarding the precise origin of Clematis, the general consensus is that the first Clematis originated in China, Japan, and parts of Europe.

However, most of the large-flowered cultivated clematis varieties we know as cut flowers today were developed through hybridisation. The first recorded clematis hybrids were created in England in the 1830s by breeders crossing small-flowered species from Europe and Asia.

Florist Information

Product Group Number:

10112201

Current Number of Varieties:

Commercially available from:

2006

More about Product Group Number

Shape & Visual texture:

Shape: Transitional

More about flower shape

Shape and form are terms that are often used together but have two different meanings. Form is three-dimensional with width, height and depth. Whereas a shape is two-dimensional. As an example a tennis ball (or Craspedia head) have a spherical form, but a round shape.

Whilst most flowers have a three-dimensional form within floristry they are traditionally categorised in three basic ways:

Round – round materials are bold and generally have high visual impact
Line – line materials have directional pull that aids visual movement
Transitional – transitional materials (often called filler flowers) have smaller branching stems or sprays of small flowers. They are used to fill in and act as stepping stones between line and round materials

These are the categories we have used within this section.

Visual texture: The Clematis flower has a mixed textures and different varieties express different visual textures within the heads visual textural variation. Some visual textures might include: Silk, veiny to the point of giving a rough impression, some varieties appear waxy. The centres can give a spiky visual impression and the seed head varieties appear fluffy.

More about visual texture

Texture is the surface appearance and feel of any object, in our instance a flower or plant material. There are two main categories of texture: Actual texture – the feel of something, and Visual texture – the way it looks. We are focusing our information on the ‘Visual texture’.

The visual texture is when something’s appearance gives the impression of the texture without having to touch it. Whilst there could be many ways of describing a visual texture we have limited ours to: Waxy e.g. Hoya or Cymbidium, Rough e.g. eryngium, Glossy e.g. anthurium, Velvety e.g. celosia, Lacy e.g. Ammi majus, or fluffy e.g. Ageratum houstonianum. Whilst there could be countless descriptions of textures, we have selected these as they are stated in the Professional Floristry Manual Edited by Lynda Owen and published by the British Florist Association.

Florists appreciate the importance of visual texture of flowers and plant materials it adds impact, interest and contrast to a design.

Inflorescences & Stem type:

Inflorescences: Raceme

About Inflorescences

Inflorescence is the categorised way that the flowers are arranged on a main axis/stalk/peduncle, stalk and by the timing of the flowering.

We will state the type of inflorescence from the following groups:

Single Inflorescence:

Single or solitary – single flower on an upright single stem, it can also be called terminal or axillary flower

Indeterminate Inflorescence:
(Monopodial (racemose) growth where the terminal bud can keep growing and the oldest flowers are at the base or outermost part of the flower and the newest at the top, central or innermost.)

Raceme – Flowers are attached to main stem by short stalk e.g. Antirrhinum, Phalaenopsis
Spike (or sometime called Sessile) – flowers are attached without stalks e.g. gladiolus
Spadix – A type of panicle but the flowers are really tightly packed, often surrounded by a spathe (we usually think of the spathe section as the flower and the spike; that actually is multiple tiny flowers, as a less significant part of the overall flower) e.g. anthurium and Zantedeschia
Panicle – highly branched racemes with multiple clusters on several branches e.g. syringa
Simple Umbel – Flower stalks arise from one point on the stem and are the same length e.g. allium
Compound Umbel – collection of simple umbels e.g. Ammi
Corymb – Flattened top with flowers of different stalk lengths e.g. achillea
Capitulum – a flower head composed of many separate unstalked flowers close together e.g. asters, sunflower, single bloom Chrysanthemum. It looks like one flower, but is actually made up of multiple tiny heads together

Determinate Inflorescence:
(Sympodial (Cymose) growth where the terminal bud flowers first and prevents any further bud being developed on the stem. The oldest flowers are at the top, central or innermost and the newest at the bottom, or outermost.)

Simple Cyme – These can be in different forms but all have the characteristic of the oldest flower being in the innermost section of the stem. e.g. spray chrysanthemum, ranunculus stem etc.
Helicoid Cyme – Successive flower heads are developed along one side of a single axis e.g. freesia
Scorpioid Cyme – Successive flower heads are developed from alternate sides of a single axis e.g. Myosotis
Dichasium Cymes (Double cymes) – two flower buds occur in axils of bract behind terminal position
Mixed Inflorescence (A raceme of cymes) – multiple flower buds are developed along multiple flower axils e.g. Euphorbia fulgens (multi stemmed)

Stem type (General): Semi-woody stem

Stem tissue type: Woody stem

The effects of these stem types are in the Florist Care Information

About different stem types

Different types of cut flower (and foliage) stems behave differently. Understanding what type of stem the flower has gives you a greater appreciation of how best to care for the flower.

We have divided the flower stems into two categories they are:

General stem type

These will include:

Woody stem – as the name suggests a woody inflexible stem that doesn’t often die down over winter
Semi woody stem – these stems are usually quite strong and have a combination of woody and soft fibres to different degrees
Soft & Bulbus stems – usually an annual summer flower or a spring bulb flower, often with a fleshy stem
Hollow stems – again, as the name suggests a stem with a hollow centre (occasionally a very soft pulp centre) these hollow stems usually entirely fill with water
Latex stems – these stems exude or ‘bleed’ a milky substance called latex. Different plants have different strength of milky latex; some types of plant with this sap are sticky and can be an irritant to people and other flowers

Some flowers may fall into two categories, e.g. narcissus and amaryllis are both hollow and a soft bulbus stem types, in these instances we will categorise them in the group that is most important to understand, with these examples narcissus will be classed as a soft bulbus stem, whereas the amaryllis will be classed as a hollow stem.

Stem tissue type

Different stem tissue types ‘pollute’ water in different ways as micro-organism bacteria are attracted to stems to a greater and lesser degree depending on their stem tissue type. When micro-organisms ‘attack’ and begin decomposing flower stems it pollutes the water and that can negatively impact the flowers lasting ability and those in the same vase, or in some situations very close by. Having an understanding about these different stem tissue types means that you can act accordingly, both in their conditioning and continued treatment. This enables you to get the best out of them and the other flowers around them that could be negatively impacted without the right understanding and care.

Whilst some stem tissue titles may be similar to those above they may be different (and without an understanding of how and why we’re using both terms, may seem contradictorily).

These will include:

Woody stem – these include woody and semi woody stems that can have thorns e.g. roses, they are generally low polluters
Hairy – stems which have very fine hairs on them e.g. gerbera, sun flowers, etc. bacteria is attracted to this stem type, clinging onto the hairs, therefore they are high polluters
Smooth – smooth stems are just as the name suggests smoother and often cleaner e.g. tulips, due to their ‘smooth’ stems the bacterial isn’t able to cling on, therefore they are generally low polluters
Soft – as the name suggest these are softer stems that bacteria can ‘attack’ more easily e.g. Matthiola/stocks, they are higher polluters
Waxed – think stems with a smooth waxy feel, almost as if they have a protective coating e.g. Dianthus/carnations, due to this coating they are very low polluters

Plant type:

Perennial

Phototropism:

Cut flower Clematis are said be phototropic, although it generally doesn’t cause problems (like it may with other flowers). The plants are very phototropic too.

About Tropism

Tropism is a growth response to an environmental stimulus. The direction is determined by the direction from which the stimulus strikes the flower or plant.

Positive = the flower or plant, or a part of it, grows in the direction from which the stimulus originates.
Negative = growth away from the stimulus.

Why is this important?

Flowers can have varying levels of phototropism – where they grow towards a light source. and this can hugely effect the flowers stems and the impact that has on a design.

A familiar example of this maybe sunflower heads facing towards the sun whilst growing, in a field of sunflowers this is an endearing phenomena.
However, if you were to place Gladioli into a design horizontally and the only light source was from above all the ends would turn upwards towards the light source, usually detrimentally impacting the desired look of the design. This happens with a whole range of flowers and is especially noticeable with line forms e.g. Antirrhinum, Matthiola, etc.

Flowers and Plants respond to:

Phototropism

As established this relates to the external stimulus of light

Light = phototropism.
- Stems are positively phototropic.
- Roots are negatively phototropic.
Another phototropic characteristic is when light can effect the colour of flower. This is can be present in some varieties of roses, where the shade of the rose can change during it’s maturity, or the same variety can look a slightly different shade depending on the amount and type of light it receives whilst growing.

Geotropism

Directional growth of a plant as a result of earth’s gravitational forces

Gravity = Geotropism/gravitropism
- Stems are negatively geotropic/gravitropic while
- roots are positively geotropic/gravitropic.

The adaptive value of these tropisms is clear.

Roots growing down and/or away from light are more likely to find the soil, water, and minerals they need.
Stems growing up and toward the light will be able to expose their leaves so that photosynthesis can occur.

Ethylene sensitivity:

Clematis are highly sensitive to Ethylene

Are Clematis poisonous or harmful?

To Humans: Poisonous
To dogs: Poisonous
To Cats: Poisonous

Clematis are considered toxic if ingested, especially the roots and stems. This is because it contains glycoside compounds. However, the level of toxicity varies between species. While cut clematis flowers alone may pose less risk than ingesting the entire plant, it’s still advisable to keep cut stems away from pets and children as a precaution due to the potential toxicity.

Clematis are commercially grown in:

Keyna, Tanzania, Zimbabwe & Holland

Where cut flower clematis are grown. Westflor flower experts

Number of countries that grow cut flower Clematis:

Number of growers of cut flower Clematis:

10 – 20

Top 3 growing countries of cut flower Clematis:

Tanzania
Kenya
Zimbabwe

Useful Brochures & Resources

Our friends at Marginpar produce 99.9% of all cut Clematis available and continue to introduce new Clematis varieties within the Amazing® series. If you would like to download a copy of the Clematis Guide or find out more information click on the link below.

Download the Clematis Guide by Marginpar

Points of Interest

Meaning of the name:

The name “clematis” comes from the Greek word “klematis” meaning a vine-like plant that climbs and trails, obviously a reference to it’s habit of climbing.

Language of flowers meaning (Victorian floriography):

Artifice, deceit and ingenuity

It’s the ability to “artificially” attach itself to structures with its twining, clinging nature, that seems to have given the clematis its association with artfulness, deceit or ingenuity in Victorian floriography.

Cultural and Symbolic meanings:

Represents travel, exploration from the old name “Traveller’s Joy”
Symbol of skilled artisanship and craftsmanship
Greek Mythology – Symbolizes mental beauty, cleverness
China – The clematis represents cheerfulness, beloved daughters
Japan – Symbolizes the beauty and transience of life
Christianity – Purity, majestic humility (from the nodding bell-shaped flowers)

Different colour Clematis flower meanings:

Purple clematis
- dignity
- admiration
- spiritual awareness
White clematis
- innocence
- youthful love
Red clematis
- passion
- ardor
Blue clematis
- truth
- openness

Other fun info:

There are around 300 species and thousands of cultivars of clematis worldwide.
The oldest known clematis fossils date back 33-56 million years to the late Eocene epoch.
Clematis were so prized in 19th century England that over 200 varieties were bred during a period name the “clematis craze.”
The fluffy seed heads that follow clematis flowers are known as “old man’s beard” due to their wispy, unkempt appearance, especially varieties that grown wild in English countryside.
The Russian name for clematis is “vialka” which translates to “twisting vine.”
Clematis vines can grow over 20 feet long in a single season under ideal conditions and their roots can extend over 20 feet into the ground in search of moisture and nutrients.
Clematis plants can live for 20-30 years or more if given the right growing conditions.

Information for florists on

Buying wholesale Clematis cut flowers

Our complete buying guide

The growers share so much information about each stem of Clematis that are sold. It’s crucial for florists to fully appreciate and understand much of this mandatory info (details that growers must provide) along with all the product details shared in the webshop. They explains to the florist, every flower characteristics, the information needed to buy the exact and best products.

We’re going to share this below so you can gain a real understand in the best ways to buy Clematis. Ready? Let’s dive in…

Tell me more

The information and characteristics provided about the vast majority of commercial cut flowers is epic!

Product codes: Every flower has it’s very own product code. This code is specific to that flower variety so a Gerbera mini ‘Kimsey’ would have a different product code to a Gerbera mini ‘Bridal Kimsey’ just as a Spray Roses ‘Coral Bubbles’ would have a different code to Spray Roses ‘Orange Bubbles’.

Flower specifications: Each individual product, of the same code, has a set of specific characteristics that will always be present, ensuring they are consistent.

Sort codes:
Whilst every flower of the same variety (and product code) might be the same in many ways, they can still be very different in others.

This is where sort codes come in, it’s vital for florists to understand and fully appreciate these codes.

Sort codes include:

Minimum length of flower stem – generally shortened to ‘length’
Weight (average) in grams
Minimum number of flower buds – generally shortened to ‘bud count’
Stage of maturity – often called ‘ripeness’
Minimum flower diameter – often called ‘head size’
Minimum bud height – often called ‘min head size’

Not every flower will have all these sort codes. For example spray roses will have details of their length, bud count, and maturity.

Group codes:
Whilst each flower and plant has it’s own product code they are classified into product groups. Each product group has a code. Categorising plants and flowers into groups with similar characteristics, is helpful on many levels; grading criteria and checks, and recording statistical information being just a couple.

Colour codes:
To clearly communicate the colour of a product it is assigned colour codes when it is registered (it has to be registered so it can be sold). The colour is established using a colour chart issued by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Each colour is indicated by a code, the RHS colour code of which there are 969 colours (the auctions have corresponding codes to match each of these). However, as these codes are such a detailed way of giving the product it’s colour, the flower auctions also use another colour classification to provide information onto webshops.

What we do: Colour codes are provided to us along with the other data, but even the shortened list is very long. That’s why we’ve created a set of ‘Colours’ where we’ve grouped together flowers colours, this means purple flowers that span across 15 different codes can easily be found all together by using our webshop filter.

Logistic codes:
These codes include information on the number of stems in the bunch, the amount of items per bucket, and the type of packaging etc. We present the essential information that you’ll need in different ways, here’s a good example of why packing type it’s important…

Consider the Kimsey mini Gerbera, these can be sold in:

bunches in a bucket of water
boxes or half a box
diamond packs

You will want to know which way you’re buying them.

Quality Groups:
These indicate if a product is A1, A2, or B1. The only 3 quality ratings. Almost all products ever sold are A1, and this is certainly the case with us at Westflor (however, occasionally you may wish to buy B1 Porta Nova red roses for two-thirds of your red rose coffin spray for example).

Other codes:

Company code: Which shares all the details of the grower

Country codes: These countries are identified by two letters.

Certifications: Showing MPS rating, Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade, GlobalGap, etc.

Marketing concept codes: This would share information such as ‘Meilland Jardin & Parfum Rose’ or ‘Hypericum Romance Series’.

Post harvest after-treatment: Types of cut flower food used immediately after the flowers have been harvested.

Cultivation method: For example, under glass or outdoors.

Wrapping material: This could share info such as no wrapping, compostable sleeve, cardboard or plastic.

Vase life index: How many days it lasted in tests.

Transaction Characteristics: This includes things like Producer Groups, like: Decorum, Parfum Flower Company, Floral Fundamentals and 365 days of flowers, and more mundane transaction info such as a products Vat rate, weather it’s priced per stem, bunch, etc.

Webshop Product Details

Clematis page listing example

Clematis cut flower page listing example westflor webshop

Product selected example

Clematis cut flower selected listing example westflor webshop

Clematis sorting descriptions:

Length (cm)

Available: 50cm -70cm

In London we stock: 50cm - 70cm. In Holland we stock: 50cm - 70cm. From Pre-order: 50cm - 70cm

Stage of maturity/ripeness

Commercially available: 1 - 4

In London we stock: 2 - 3. In Holland we stock: 2 - 3. From Pre-order: 2 - 3.

Other available information

Maturity: Whilst the stage of maturity or ripeness is mandatory information that must be given by the growers, as we have a limited amount of space to share information on our webshop, coupled with the fact that we always ensure the flowers we sell are exceptionally fresh, we don’t always share this is information.

Maturity or Ripeness:

Clematis are sorted by maturity or ripeness as shown in the example(s) below.

One represents the most closed the flower can be sold by the grower and five represents the most open it can be sold by the grower.

Whilst regulations dictates flowers can be sold in stages 1 – 5 in reality flowers are often unavailable in all maturity or ripeness stages (it’s just not practical or beneficial).

More information on maturity/ripeness codes:

Flower maturity or ripeness can be shown in different ways.

One number repeated: When one number is repeated it indicates all the flowers are of that maturity. This number can be shown with or without a hyphen e.g. 3-3 or 33

Different numbers shown: When the numbers are different it indicates flowers in that bunch have a maturity range of between the lowest to the highest number. e.g. 2-3 or 23. It is very unusual that flowers are ever sold as a complete maturity mixed bunch, but it is technically possible, this would be represented as 1 – 5 or 15.

Why it’s important to know and use this information: Knowing this information can be very helpful to florists.

For example a florist may welcome buying a more mature rose of 4 if they need to create a flower wall or large archway for a wedding, or similarly, if they are creating a coffin spray of roses for a funeral.

However, if they are looking to buy roses for stock, or general gift work, they are likely to want 2 or 3 maturity flowers.

Some roses are only ever sold from maturity 3, this includes all Meijer roses and the vast majority of Porta Nova roses – they’re naturally a large head that opens beautifully, they don’t sell it when it’s very closed (unless they’re sending it to a country that takes over 24 hours for the transport to arrive. In this instance, as they are transported in water, they leave the growers at stage 2 and arrive at stage 3!).

Cut Flower Clematis care guides

We’ll cover all the care information for florists and for enjoying Clematis at home. The expert information we share will ensure you get the very best out of your cut Clematis.

FLORIST CARE INFORMATION
CUSTOMER CARE INFORMATION

Florists care and conditioning advice

Special care considerations for Clematis:

Besides all the usual cut flower conditioning and care good practices (which are led out in the ‘Consumer / at home care information section) the points below are important to know and specific to Clematis cut flower care.

Good air flower is important to Clematis to stop any dampening or botrytis, although it’s generally highly resistant to Botrytis. However, don’t over crowd them or ‘pack’ them in with other flowers and do not leave them in plastic sleeves for extended periods of time, this is just asking for trouble!
Clematis are thirstier than you might imagine, they love fresh, clean, cold water and lots of it.
Clematis are best in water, they do not enjoy floral foam or other materials that may impede water uptake.
It’s been advised that Clematis don’t appreciate small water tubes, because they take up a lot of water, so if using water tubes for them, ensure they are large enough and topped up regularly – more often than you might imagine!
Cut flower food (containing sugar and an acidifier) is important and will help: rehydration & general water uptake, buds to fully open, reduce bacteria build up in the water, avoid premature wilting. Chrysal (universal) flower food is recommended.
The life span of Clematis will be reduced when they are in warm or dark environments, however, they last best in cool and light rooms.
Removing foliage from the Clematis will help the flowers last even longer.
As they are very ethylene sensitive avoid ethylene exposure as this will result in premature wilting and prevent flowers opening.

Best cut flower food:

Whilst in stock: Chrysal professional 2
For aqua pack, vases, foam soaking prior to delivery: Chrysal pro 2 or pro 3
Sachet to send to with flowers: Universal clear | Chrysal bio based compostable or paper sachets

Shop cut flower food

Stem type effect:

Stem type: Semi-woody
Effect: Avoid overly bending the stems

Stem tissue type: Woody
Water polluting level: Low

Optimal temperature:

40-50°F

Caring for flowers at home

Step by step guide

Select a suitable vase for the flowers:
- Usually the minimum vase size should be at least 1 litre
- Where possible avoid antique crystal, metal or porous vases, or use a plastic inner container to line the vase
Clean your vase thoroughly, if you feel it is clean still rinse it out or brush or wipe the inside
Use fresh tap water and add the correct quantity of cut flower food for the amount of water you use. Mix the cut flower food into the water
Remove all leaves that would go below the water level (leaving the stems as clean as possible)
Avoid damaging the stems
Cut at least 4cm off the end of the flower (and foliage) stems at a 45° angle with a sharp clean knife or secateurs. The aim is to get a clean cut that doesn’t crush and damage the stem (which scissors can sometimes do). Dirty tools can pass bacteria to the fresh cut
Place the freshly cut materials directly into water – do not leave them on the side to ‘breath air’
Avoid exposure to direct sunlight, draughts and excessive airflow, heat, ripening fruit, and smoke
Keep a close eye on the water:
- Ensure all stems are still below the water level
- Top up the water (or change it) if it falls below 1/3 or the initial volume
- Change the water if it becomes visibly dirty; cloudy, discoloured, including sediment at the bottom of the vase, or if smells bad (micro-organisms in the water cause these issues).
- When using professional cut flower food the water will rarely need changing before 3, 4 or more days, in most cases you can simply top the water up with more of the cut flower food solution. However, some types of flower stems and warmer weather or locations, cause result in the water needing to be changed sooner.
When changing the water, rinse clean the vase, add more cut flower food solution recut the flower stems
If you do not have (and can not get) cut flower food, change the water more frequently, ideally every other day and recut the stems each time
Ensure flowers are not overly crowded
Remove any fading flowers promptly