Most clematis are flowering shrubs, with several thousand different species and varieties in cultivation. Their flowers range from nodding bells to huge saucers with intricate and brightly coloured contrasting stamens or anthers. Some have dense double blooms and others sweetly scented flowers. There’s a clematis for every season and every garden situation or aspect. Traditionally, clematis are planted to climb up a garden trellis or pergola, an attractive use for all varieties. But some can be used with dramatic effect twining through a shrub or rose bush, scrambling up a tree or grown in a patio pot.
Here is a selection of readily available varieties of these spectacular ornamental climbers which are suitable for special effects and conditions.
Clematis to Grow in Shade or on a North Wall
Most clematis are good shade plants, but these are particularly good:
- Clematis Alpina Hagley Hybrid. Shell pink 5-6 inch flowers from June – September. Height 6-8 ft.
- Clematis Dr Ruppel. Deep pink-mauve 6-8 inch flowers with paler margins and cerise bar from May to July and in September. Height 8-10 feet.
- Clematis macropetala Blue Bird. Masses of bell shaped blue flower in April and May, followed by tasselled seed heads. Height 6-10 feet.
- Clematis montana Freda. Deep cherry pink, almost red, 2 inch flowers with paler bars, in May and June. Attractive purple-bronze foliage. Height 20-30 feet.
- Clematis Nelly Moser. Huge 7-8 inch pale mauve-pink flowers with light cerise bars and red anthers in May-June and September. Height 8-10 feet. Gives best colours in shade.
- Clematis Tangutica Bill MacKenzie. Bright yellow lantern shaped 2.5 – 3 inch flowers from August to October followed by silky seedheads. Height 10-15 feet.
Clematis to Grow in Full Sun
- Clematis armandii Apple Blossom. Clusters of 2 inch pink-white scented flowers from March to May, and evergreen foliage. Height 15-20 feet. Snow Drift is a similar variety with pure white flower.
- Clematis Beauty of Worcester. Deep blue double 6-7 inch flowersin May June, followd by single blooms in August September. Height 6-8 feet.
- Clematis Gypsy Queen. Profuse purple 5 inch flowers from August to October. Height 10-12 feet.
- Clematis montana Elizabeth. Pale pink scented 2.5 inch flowers in May and June. Height 20-30 feet.
- Clematis Multi Blue. 4-5 inch purple-blue double blooms with a large central rosette of anthers in May-June and August-September. Height 6-8 feet.
- Clematis texensis Etoile Rose. 2-3 inch nodding open stars of pale pink flower with a cerise bar from June-September. Height 6-8 feet.
Clematis to Scramble Up a Tree
- Clematis alpina Frances Rivis. Deep blue bell shaped 2.5 inch flowers with a white centre in April-May. Height 6-8 feet.
- Clematis cirrhosa Balearica. 1.5 inch nodding bells of cream flower, with maroon freckles inside, from January to March. Evergreen. Height 10-12 feet.
- Clematis henryi. Pure white 7-8 inch flowers with brown stamens from June-August if unpruned. Height 10-12 feet.
- Clematis macropetala Markham’s Pink. Mid pink semi-double bell shaped 2-2.5 inch flowers in April May. Height 8-10 feet.
- Clematis Miss Bateman. 5-6 inch white flowers with dark red anthers in May-June. Height 7-10 feet..
- Clematis montana grandiflora. 3 -3.5 inch pure flowers with bright yellow anthers in May-June. Height 30-40 feet. Montanas are ideal for scrambling up a tree, but can swamp smaller trees. Grandiflora is very vigorous and needs a large tree.
Clematis to Grow as Patio Plants
- Clematis Cassis. Double plum-purple 3-4 inch rosettes of flowers from June to September.
- Clematis Crystal Fountain. 5-6 inch lilac blue flowers with a spiky white fountain-like centre, giving a spectacular double effect in May-June and August-September.
- Clematis Mrs N Thompson. Deep purple-blue 5 – 7 inch flowers with a purple-cerise bar in May-June and September.
- Clematis Picardy. Dusky mid-red 3-4 inch flowers with a brighter red bar from June – September.
- Clematis Piilu. Double mauve-pink 2-4 inch flowers with irregular pink and white markings in May-June and September.
- Clematis Viennetta. 3-4 inch cream flowers with a stunning purple and green-cream pom-pom like centre from June – September. Needs winter protection.
More Information on Clematis and Other Climbers
How to grow clematis.
Clemaris varieties to give year-round flower.
How to grow honeysuckle.
Most varieties above are readily available from good garden centres or specialist growers like Thorncroft Clematis Nursery or Taylor’s Clematis.