Large flowered hybrids

The large flowering clematis listed below are the most graceful and hardy of all our climbing plants. For sheer beauty, diverse form and colour variation they are unsurpassed in the garden. The perfect plants for covering walls pergolas, garden sheds, they are also ideal for growing through trees and shrubs. With only a few varieties we can have them blooming from May to September and even into October. They live to a great age and are hardy, withstanding our severest weather, with no protection whatsoever. During their first season they will often produce up to a dozen flowers depending on variety and, with a little care, will cover themselves with a magnificent display within three years. Many flower profusely, with heavy displays during May and June and another flurry in September of smaller flowers produced on wood grown that year. Another group flower with a burst in June, then flower intermittently through to September. They require little or no pruning, just a tidy up. For in-depth planting, cultivation and pruning advice, consult our cultivation notebook.

Those with a name in brackets after the variety name are subject to Plant Breeders Rights.

Alabast (Poulala) 15–20cm cream flowers, vigorous growth to 4–4.5m	E
Alice Fisk Wedgewood blue up to 20cm, with frilly edges. One of the best	D
Andromeda Silky white with pink bar. Best on a north wall out of the sun	D
Anna Louise (Evithree) The strongest deep blue with red bar. Grows to 4m	E
Anniversary (Pynot) A good purple/blue. Flowers June to Sept	E
Arctic Queen (Evitwoo) Huge double white. Compact grower to 1.5–2m	E
Asao Deep pink with pink bar. A good variety from Japan	C
Barbara Dibley Deep cerise red. Grow it in the shade to keep the colour	C
Barbara Jackman Petunia mauve pink bars. Strong growth	B
Beauty of Worcester Double violet blue. Compact growth to 2m	D
Bees Jubilee White with pink bar. Keeps best colour in shade	A
Belle of Woking Silver grey double. Strong grower to 3–4m	D
Blue Moon (Evirin) Huge frilly grey blue. Grows to 3m	F
Burma Star Named to celebrate the old soldiers awarded this famous medal. Deep rich purple-blue with deep red stamens. Grows to 2.5m	D
Capitaine Thuilleaux (Tweelo) Strawberry pink and cream tepals. Grows to 2.5m	A
Carnaby Deep pink to pale pink with white bar	A
Chalcedony Double silver grey. Good strong growing variety	D
Charissima The largest pink clematis, with flowers up to 22cm and recurving tepals	D
Corona Compact cerise pink to red. Profuse flowerer	A
Countess of Lovelace A select double sky blue variety	D
Crystal Fountain _ Full double lilac spikes. Grows to 2.5m. Much in demand	F
Daniel Deronda ` Beautiful violet, blue bronzy foliage	C
Dawn Early flowering pastel pink. Needs shade to keep colour	B
Dr Ruppell ` Popular frilly pink with white bar. Flowers in May	C
Duchess of Edinburgh Well known double white	D
Duchess of Sutherland Good red, with cream centre, sometimes double	D
Edith Long flowering white June to Sept	D
Elsa Spath Compact blue, large flowers in profusion. Grows to 2+m	B
Ernest Markham Well known petunia red. Good performer	A
Fair Rosamund White with cream bar and translucent tepals. Faint perfume	C
Fireworks Bright large flowers. Pink-blue, with a pink bar	D
Fujimusume Very attractive, powder blue flowers. Grows to 1.5m	D
General Sikorsky ` Steel blue up to 22cm. Good strong grower	C
Gillian Blades Frilly white large flowers. Very popular	C
Gipsy Queen Large purple-blue. Good with roses and can reach 4m	A
Guernsey Cream Grown in shade the creamy yellow flowers keep their colour	D
Haku Ookan Striking Japanese variety. Violet blue with prominent white stamens	D
Henryi Huge long flowering white with brown stamens. Good performer since 1870	D
H.F.Young Compact and covered in bloom, this is one of the most reliable blues	D
Horn of Plenty Huge frilly puce flowers with deep red stamens. Good grower	C
Hybid sieboldii (see Ramona) Large satin blue flowers up to 20 cm. Strong grower	C
Jackmanii alba Unknown large white double with blue edges	D
Josephine (Evijohil) Full double silver and pink. Stunning June to September	F
James Mason Single white with chocolate centre. Grows to 4m	F
Kasper Large purple mauve with flowers up to 22cm. Grows to 2.5m	C
Kathleen Dunford Double rosy pink. Easy grower, up to 2.5m	D
King Edward VII Huge puce violet flowers up to 25cm	E
Kiri te Kanawa Deep sky blue full double. As popular as the singer	E
Lady Betty Balfour Rich purple blue 20 cm flowers. August to October	A
Lady Northcliffe A classy powder blue. Compact but impressive	D
Lasurstern Deep blue with cream stamens. Always popular	C
Lemon Chiffon Quite yellow if grown on a North wall. Easy grower up to 3m	D
Lincoln Star Raspberry pink with white bar and deep brown stamens	B
Lord Neville Rare dark blue. Popular, photographs well	B
Louise Rowe A brilliant white-grey double, semi-double and single	D
Madame le Coultre (see Marie Boisellot below)	D
Madame Grange Hanging purple flowers with silver hairy reverse	D
Marie Boisellot The best white clematis with 20cm flowers June to Sept	D
Maureen Purple velvet red. Always in short supply. Grows to 2.5m	E
Miss Bateman Firm round white chocolate stamens. The first to flower	B
Miss Crawshay Semi-double, soft mauve pink	D
Moonlight Soft yellow retains colour on a north wall	D
Mrs Cholmondeley ` Long flowering wedgewood-blue 20cm flowers June to September. Grows to 4 m	D
Mrs G.Jackman White solid overlapping tepals. Grows to 2m. My favourite	D
Mrs James Mason Sumptuous red and lilac shades with prominent gold stamens	D
Mrs N.Thompson Deep blue with vivid red bar. Compact to 2m	A
Mrs Spencer Castle Semidouble silver pink. Grows to 2m	D
Multiblue Double violet blue with silver reverse. A super variety	D
Myojo Deep plum with bright cream stamens. Brilliant!	D
Natascha Lavender violet flowers. Grows to 2m	B
Nelly Moser White with pink bar. One of the very best	A
Niobe Opens deep black red to mid red cream stamens. Grows to 2.5m	D
Perrins Pride Deep blue/red from America. Profuse flowering	B
Peveril Pearl Large flowers of pale pink with pearly sheen	D
Piilu Compact pink and white from Estonia. Rich double in Spring	E
Pink champagne Deep pink with paler pink bar from Japan	C
Pink fantasy Very pale pink with deeper pink bar. Best out of the sun	C
Prince Charles (see C.viticella section)	E
Proteus Full double lilac pink. Huge powder puff balls	D
Ramona Satin blue large 20cm flowers. Grows to 4m	C
Rhapsody Sapphire blue with cream stamens. Scented	C
Richard Pennell ` Rosy purple with prominent cream stamens	C
Royalty Double rosy purple. Unusual but popular flower. Quite compact	D
Royal Velvet Sumptuous deep purple blue with velvet texture	D
Ruby Glow Rich pink/red.golden stamens. Good variety growing to 2.5m	D
Scartho Gem A Nelly Moser in double form though single in September. grows to 2.5m	D
Sealand Gem Silver grey double with pink bar	D
Silver Moon Grey velvet flowers. In short supply	C
Snow Queen Huge white flowers with deep red stamens. Easy to grow	C
Sugar Candy (Evione) Large pink with deeper bar	D
Sunset Bright red with cream stamens. Tall growing to 3.5m	D
Sylvia Denny Creamy white double borne in profusion Medium-sized flowers	D
The Bride Pure white. Good gift for newly weds	C
The President Purple blue. Long flowering June to September	A
The Vagabond Long flowering purple red cream stamens. A patio plant growing to 1.2m	D
Veronicas Choice Lilac double, slightly fragrant. Large cone shaped flower	D
Violet Charm Heavy violet flowers in profusion. Good variety	C
Vyvyan Pennell The best known full double purple blue. Strong grower	D
Wadas Primrose Large delicate primrose flowers. Strong grower to 4.5m	C
Walter Pennell Large rosy purple with double rosette in the centre	D
W.E.Gladstone Pale blue flowers up to 25cm. The largest of the hybrids	E
Westerplatte Bright deepish red in profusion.Vigorous	E
Will Goodwin Beautiful light blue cream stamens	C
William Kennett Strong reliable lavender blue. Flowers June to September	B