Categories: Flower Gardens

Clematis Varieties for Year Round Flowers

There’s a place for clematis in almost any garden design. They come in all sizes from two to forty feet tall, and most will grow happily in full sun or in the shade of a north wall. They’ll cover a garden trellis or pergola or scramble through a hedge or tree. They produce a wonderful variety of richly coloured flowers from huge saucers 6-8 inches across to opulent double blooms and dainty nodding bells. By planting a small selection of different clematis varieties from the list of popular clematis below you can enjoy a succession of flowers every month of the year.

Spring Flowering Clematis

Clematis Armandii are probably the earliest and longest flowering. Apple Blossom (10-12 feet) is one of the best, with pink/white scented 2 inch flowers from March to May. Other very popular spring flowering varieties include:

Clematis alpina Frances Rivis. Blue/white bell shaped 2 inch flowers April – May. Height 6-8 feet.
Clematis Dr Ruppel. Open Pink and white barred 8inch flowers April – May and again in August – September. 8-10 feet.
Clematis forsteri. Clusters of green/cream scented 1 inch bell flowers April-May. Height 6-8 feet.
Clematis macropetala Markham’s Pink. Pink/mauve semi double 2.5 inch flowers April May. Height 8-10 feet.
Clematis Propertius. Deep pink semi double 3 inch feathery bell flowers April -May and July – August. Height 6-8 feet.

Early Summer Flowering Clematis

A huge number of clematis flower in early summer, including the montanas and the majority of the large flowered hybrids. mong the best are:

Clematis Beauty of Worcester. Deep blue double 6.5 inch flowers in May-June and single flowers in August -September. Height 6-8 feet.
Clematis Miss Bateman. 6 inch white flowers with red anthers in May and June. Height 6-8 feet.
Clematis Montana Freda. Masses of deep pink 2 inch flowers in May and June. Height 6-8 feet. The white flowered montana Grandiflora and the pale pink montana Elizabeth bloom at the same time.
Clematis Nelly Moser. Huge pink/white barred 7-8 inch flowers in May and June. Height 8-10 feet.
Clematis the President. 7 inch Purple blue open flowers in May-June and again in August -September. Height 8-10 feet.

Late Summer Flowering Clematis

Several groups of clematis flower in late summer, including more of the large flowered hybrids, some for the second time. They include;

Clematis alpina Hagley Hybrid. 6 inch shell pink flowers from June to September. Height 6-8 feet.
Clematis Ernest Markham. Deep magenta-red 5 inch flowers from June to August. Heavy pruning can delay the flowering period to August-October. Height 6-8 feet.
Clematis florida sieboldii. 3-4 inch white flowers with a huge purple centre from June to September. Height 6-8 feet.
Clematis Gypsy Queen. Deep purple 7 inch flowers from July to September. Height 6-8 feet.
Clematis henryi. Open white 8 inch flowers with ornate brown anthers from June to August. Heavy pruning can delay the flowering period to August-October. Height 6-8 feet.
Clematis Niobe. Striking wine red 6 inch flowers from June to August. Height 6-8 feet.
Clematis Parisienne. Open 6 inch violet/blue flowers with red anthers in June/July and again in September/October. Height 3-4 feet.
Clematis Piilu. Splendid double mauve/pink 3-4 inch flowers with white markings in June/July followed by single flowers in September. Height 5-6 feet.
Clematis texensis Etoile Rose. Open bell shaped 2.5 inch pink/white flowers from June to August. Height 6-8 feet.
Clematis vitalba. The native British Travellers Joy. Masses of small white star shaped flowers in July/August. Height 30 feet. Can be invasive and only recommended for a “wild” garden.
Clematis viticella Etoile Violette. Open, dark purple 3.5 inch flowers with yellow anthers from July to September. Height 8-10 feet.

Autumn Flowering Clematis

Some summer flowering varieties can be persuaded to flower into autumn by hard pruning. Popular varieties which flower naturally at this time include:

Clematis Jackmanii Rubra. Semi double, dark crimson 6 inch flowers in May/June followed by single flowers from August to October. Height 8-12 feet.
Clematis tangutica Bill Mackenzie. 3 inch yellow bell flowers from August to November, followed by ornamental seed tassels. Height 10-15 feet.
Clematis texensis Gravetye Beauty. Deep red 2.5 inch flowers from July to October. Height 8-10 feet.
Clematis tibetana Orange Peel. 1.5 inch open, golden yellow nodding flowers from August to November. Height 8-12 feet.
Clematis viticella Polish Spirit. 3.5 inch purple flowers with red anthers from August to October. Height 8-10 feet.

Winter Flowering Clematis

It’s possible to enjoy these delightful plants even in the depths of winter. Here are four of the best;

Clematis cirrhosa Freckles. 1.5-2 inch nodding white bells, heavily freckled with maroon, from October to February. Evergreen. Height 8-10 feet.
Clematis cirrhosa Wisley Cream. 2 inch nodding cream bells from Janiary to March. Evergreen. Height 10-12 feet.
Clematis urophylla Winter Beauty. 1.5 inch cream/white bells from December to February. Evergreen. Height 12 feet.
Clematis napaulensis. 1 inch green/cream flowers with red anthers from November to March. Dormant in summer. Height 15-20 feet.