Plant Features

Garden Information

Physical Characteristics

History

This plant is counted among the modern large flowered hybrids which descended through a complex lineage which crosses a variety of different speices. they combine the native europeans, c. viticella, c. flammula and c. cirrosa which produced the first 16th century hybrids. tnese were in turn crossed with a new crop of species from asia arriving in the 19th century which include c. patens, from japan, c. languinosa from china and enigmatic c. florida which proved the greatest influence of all in producing the large flowered hybrids. breeding slowed in the 20th century only to begin again in the fifties when this and a number of other contemporary cultivars appeared.

Design Ideas

Boldly plant this beautiful vine to climb up a tall pine or other sturdy evergreen and its fragrant pink blooms will make a stunning late-spring show. or plant along a low fence where it will become a mass of deep pink.

Care Info

Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep extensive root system. feed with a general purpose fertilizer. provide the support of a trellis or arbor. roots prefer a cool, shaded area, tops in the sun.

Plant Benefits

Wonderful summer color from sweetly fragrant, anemone-like flowers. quick-growing vine for use on arbors. new growth has purplish coloring, maturing to bronzy green. deciduous.

Lore

The greatest boom in clematis breeding occurred in the victorian era. during that time it was believed that all things look more beautiful when draped in vines. that was when the english practice of using dead trees as a treillage began and continues today. the old practice of allowing clematis vines to sprawl on the ground in wild gardens is also rekindling giving this climber new potential.

Comapanion Info

Recommended Companions

hibiscus moscheutos x 'blue river ii'|bougainvillea 'barbara karst' & 'california gold'

Companion Info

A perfect companion for a living evergreen trellis such as japanese white pine (pinus parviflora 'glauca'), but let the pine get a head start. add the creamy striped foliage of morning light maiden grass (miscanthus sinensis 'morning light') for a finely textured look near the clematis. the mature maroon foliage of shaina japanese maple (acer palmatum 'shaina') is a good foil to the pink clematis blooms.