I have mentioned before now that it seems to be a good year for clematis, and amongst the floriferousness there have also been some unseasonable oddities, like a few blooming sprigs on C armandii ‘Snowdrift’ (above), the flowers so purely white they remind me of sugar flowers. Below are random blooms and fluffy seedheads on C alpina ‘Constance’ and C alpina ‘Pamela Jackman’ with another more seasonal but mislabelled clematis which looks like C viticella ‘Little Bas’:
Having replaced my original C texenis ‘Princess Diana’, she is now doing well but was surprised to find herself suddenly accompanied by C viticella ‘Purpurea Plena Elegans’ which hasn’t seen the light of day for a number of years – no idea what has been getting up to in the interim but I am very happy to see her again!
I like a bit of quirk in the garden, so of course have had to include Clematis viticella‘Alba Luxurians‘, although its white twisted white and green tepals can sometimes disappear amongst its foliage:
Equally leafy is the adjacent C texensis ‘Gravetye Beauty’ which is always reluctant to produce a proportionate number of blooms to match its leafiness, but this year it is perhaps responding to being fed and watered regularly, as it has made a good start:
When they are happy, clematis, like roses, make such a good investment and you can never have too many: both the garden and the gardener are reaping the benefits this year.
These are just six of my clematis investments; to see what six things other gardeners have chosen to feature today, just pop over to Jon the Propagator’s blog and check out the links.
Rambling in the Garden 
I tried to grow this year after year for so long. I finally gave up. Clematis is so beautiful.
Where do you live? What a shame if your climate is not suitable for clematis as there are so many varieties available
Northeast US. I have seen them grown here but I just never had any luck.
Will you try again? Perhaps try the viticella ones which have a very long flowering season and are easy to prune
Perhaps I will next spring. I think now it might be getting too late. I don’t really know. I guess I can check to see if they are still selling them locally. If so, maybe I will try what you suggested.
Lovely clematis! I only have two here at Church Barn: Clematis armandii and the herbaceous clematis Arabella. I am enjoying seeing Arabella scramble through the other plants in the border in a pretty lilac colour.
And 2 is definitely not too many, Dorris! My armandii is still only a couple of years old and its growth never ceases to amaze me. I have some herbaceous clematis too which are doing better this year after following advice from a specialist who suggested that even though they scramble they do better with a structure, so they now have a small obelisk to grow up. Will you add more yourself?
Interesting about the framework comment.
I expect I will add some more in due course. They are a lovely addition to a garden.
I guess their comment was in response to my saying that mine struggled when left to sprawl – where they are happily sprawling clearly no structure is needed. Mine are certainly doing better on the obelisks
Glad they are doing better for you
I .will just have to enjoy yours. Mine only had two blooms but it is anew plant. Maybe next year it will pop
Sometimes they sulk for a year or two before they get going – and I have learned that they do respond to watering and feeding
C texenis ‘Princess Diana’ is rather lovely, my ‘Kate’ has just started blooming too. And looks very nice mixed in with an unknown magenta coloured one. I have always fancied ‘Purpurea Plena Elegans’ but I have a very hit and miss ratio with clematis. In fact I am going to move one in a pot right now as it is being badly eaten by snails!!
What size pots do you grow yours in Jude?
I’ve only got the one in a pot – that strange greenish-yellow one koreana ‘Amber’ – which is supposed to be suitable in a pot. The one it is in is about 15cm diameter and it is growing, just getting eaten by the snails which hide behind our house sign and obviously find the new leaves too tempting!
Grrr!
They are exquisite; but we grow only a few, and their season is very brief in our arid climate.
I can imagine that without regular watering that would be the case
It is a great climate, but not perfect.
“you can never have too many”. wise words indeed! bought one at the weekend, just your basic jackmanii, but for a fiver who cares!
Rather!
I love clematis and yours are stunning. I have a number of whites of different sorts, including Viticella Alba but seeing some of the dark crimsons, I’m tempted…
There are just so many varieties to choose from, Prue, but it is far better to see them in the flesh, a mature plant in someone’s garden, to make an inspired choice
‘Alba Luxurians’ is a favourite and will probably be in my Six next week. You’ve some beautiful Clematis.
Will try and remember to look out for it. Have you found it a good year for clematis too?