There are hundreds of types of clematis – spring blooming, double-blooming, herbaceous, dwarves, even those that love to live in pots.
Linda Beutler grows more than 250 types of the plant in her yard, so her book, “Gardening With Clematis” (Timber Press, $34.95), is full of information so you’ll understand these lovelies. She covers types, cultivation, designing with clematis, and answers the always tough question of when to prune.
Following are some of Beutler’s favorite clematis, hardy in this area, taken from her book.
Best for beginners
Clematis “Comtesse de Bouchaud”: This is a grand old gal, blooming late-season, a large-flowered hybrid with pink flowers. (Zones 4-9)
Clematis x durandii: This herbaceous perennial clematis is more dark blue than purple, wholly deserving of the many praises heaped upon it. (Zones 5-9)
Clematis “Fujimusume”: This is a large-flowered hybrid of a particularly plant-lust-inducing clear, uniform blue. (Zones 4-9)
Clematis “Helios”: This shorter C. tangutica hybrid has down-facing, open yellow flowers; a plant blooming with enthusiasm. (Zones 4-9)
Clematis “Huldine”: The flowers have a white face with mauve-reversed sepals. (Zones 4-9)
Clematis “Niobe”: A large-flowered hybrid, burgundy-red, this cultivar would be in the clematis Hall of Fame, if there were one. (Zones 4-8)
Clematis “Silver Moon”: Another large-flowered hybrid, pale silver-lavender, it blooms freely in partial shade. (Zones 4-9)
Clematis “Viola”: A popular large-flowered hybrid with royal purple blooms, this is a reliable vine. (Zones 4-9)
Pair with roses
Clematis “Anita”: She has delicate, out-facing, small white flowers produced over a long season with ladylike foliate. (Zones 3-9)
Clematis “Barbara Dibley”: This is a very large, large-flowered hybrid of a particularly carrying pink. (Zones 4-9)
Clematis “Chalcedony”: Poised and densely double, this large- flowered hybrid is crisply ice blue. (Zones 4-9)
Clematis “Kiri Te Kanawa”: This is a double large-flowered hybrid, dark rich blue when buds develop in hot weather. (Zones 4-9)
Clematis “Snow Queen”: an elegant, white large-flowered hybrid with dark anthers. (Zones 4-8)
Clematis tangutica “Golden Harvest”: This small-flowered cultivar has yellow lantern-shaped bells, summer to fall. (Zones 5-9)
Clematis “Venosa Violacea”: White with strong purple-burgundy veining to a solid outline. (Zones 5-10)
Clematis “Ville de Lyon”: This old French large-flowered hybrid is outlined heavily in raspberry red with a paler central brush stroke. (Zones 3-9)
Clematis “Warszawska Nike”: A plum-colored large-flowered hybrid that is redder in some climates. (Zones 4-9)
Clematis “Westerplatte”: This is a large-flowered hybrid of a particularly throbbing shade of red with a persistent velvet sheen, nonfading. (Zones 4-9)
Clematis for containers
Raymond Evison introduced this year the first clematis bred for containers. These clematis require minimal care and also will thrive in a garden, out of their pots.
These dwarf clematis are compact, growing only 2-3 feet high.
The Raymond Evison Patio Clematis Collection includes the Cezanne, with 6-to-7-inch violet flowers blooming early summer to midsummer; Picardy blooms, pinkish red with yellow sepals, June through September; and Versailles, a wine-red flower debuting in May and lasting through September. Visit hinesvines.com.
