While the roses have a little rest, clematis throughout the garden continue to get better and better, their mass of colour providing jaw-dropping moments of sheer pleasure and wonder. The first four are in constant view from the kitchen, framing the paved area in front of the sitooterie, along with several roses:
Clematis viticella ‘Rosalyn’
Clematis viticella ‘Margot Koster’
Clematis viticella ‘Madame Julia Correvon’
Clematis viticella ‘Blue Angel’
This trio on the clematis colonnade look equally stunning, although this photograph on a bright Saturday afternoon does not do them justice:
Clematis viticella ‘Pernille’
Clematis viticella ‘Prince George’
Clematis texensis ‘Princess Diana’
Finally, and this one really took my breath away, as I must have walked past it many times without noticing it until today, intent on savouring another delight – or, more likely, focussing on what needed deadheading – hundreds upon hundreds of blooms and buds on Clematis viticella ‘Etoile Violette’…and that’s just on one side of this half-fence.
Clematis viticella ‘Etoile Violette’
Like roses, you can never have too many clematis in a garden, and each summer a show like this inevitably generates a search for more potential host fences or trees to add more!
That’s my six: now pop over to visit the blog of Jon the Propagator to see the six things he has chosen to feature today, and find links to many more.
Yes what a show you have some I have never seen before, and one I have grown before, so many thanks for sharing the wow moments.
One of the Staffs NGS gardens used to boast over 100 viticella clematis – that would be something to aim for…!!!!
Great selection of Clematis. I think ‘Princess Diana’ is my favourite – such a great colour, and tulip-esque flower shape.
Thanks – I like these tulip shaped ones too, and this the best my Princess Di has ever been
A few of these sorts of showy clematis, and perhaps a few like yours (Margot Koster, Blue Angel and Etoile Violette) have been available here for several years, but I am not certain what to think of them. There are at lest two at work, and they bloom rather nicely, but do so only briefly in spring, and do not get very high into the tall trellis that was built for them. I am pleased that they have survived for a few years, rather than blooming for only a single season. Even though they are small and bloom only briefly, I am rather fond of them, so can not complain that they do not perform well here.
We are lucky here then, because these will still be flowering into September
I get the impression that such a long bloom season is normal for them. They just do not perform like that in arid climates. Their foliage gets too roasted to function for long.
Clematis are certainly making a statement at the moment and you have a lovely selection. We have a lot that are the same and I agree that Etoille Violette is a wonderful one, mine has climbed its obelisk, scrambled over a Myrtle tree and is now climbing the dead oak, when will it stop!
I have Etoile Violette on either side of the ‘Bus shelter’ and this one is growing into the Mme Alfred Carriere above it – so pretty high!! I shall be assessing other trees to see where I can add more clematis, I think
They really are gorgeous! I planted a Rosalyn this year and hope it will be at least half as good as yours. 😃
Mine has not been here very long either – perhaps aout 3 years?
my soul is drowning in so much colour…
Yes, sometimes the abundance here can seem almost overwhelming…
They are jaw dropping, I think clematis are the stars of the July garden for impact. You have got together a stunning collection.
And these ones have been doing well, Chloris, but those on the colonnade have taken longer to establish but are doing better now, especially since I built the brick edging which meant the beds retained water better
A beautiful selection with ‘Etoile Violette’ and ‘Madame Julia Correvon’ special favourites.
Thanks Paddy – it still amazes me that so many blooms can come from just this year’s new growth
Lovely variety of shapes and colors.
Thank you – although I realise there is a predominance of pinks and purples (but that’s clematis for you!)…
GORGEOUS!! And you are so right, there are never too many flowers 💞💞 blessings to you!
Thank you – Nature is wonderful…!
Your clematis are indeed jaw dropping Cathy. I was encouraged to read about and see your ‘Etoile Violette’, having purchased three plants earlier this spring from Thorncroft Clematis. They flowered earlier and a different colour to what I was expecting. I subsequently emailed Thorncroft to inform them and the result was that I was advised that a batch of plants had got mixed up but they didn’t know who they had been sent to or how many. It turns out my plants were ‘Margaret Hunt’ who is quite lovely. Three replacement ‘Etoile Violette’ arrived a couple of days with profuse apologies. I hope that they do as well as yours 😄
I imagine Margaret Hunt and Etoile Violette would look quite wonderful side by side, or intertwined. Did you have to return them?
Thorncroft’s customer service is always faultless – and now you have 3 extra plants!
I agree – you can never have too many Clematis in the garden, and you have a marvelous selection.
Thanks Jason – and those I featured were just a few, albeit the best of those I have. I have realised in recent years that it can take a few years for a clematis to fully establish, so I am waiting patiently for some of my newer ones…
I love viticella Clematis – so nice to see your collection!
Thanks Chris, I am thrilled that they have done so well
Amazing! Love that cloud of Clematis viticella ‘Rosalyn’. What interesting shapes the flowers are. 🙂
They are glorious, I love them! I didn’t tie the tops into the support early enough this year, but where they have flopped over they are not getting in anyone’s way
They are all looking delightful. My collection has increased this year, but still on the small side and my summer flowering ones have only just started, with Prince Charles first in the royals! I am hoping that over the next few years they will all bulk up.
I don’t have Prince Charles, but I have his Grannie, who is pretty, and also Kate and a not yet performing William. I am learning to be patient with them…!
Charles is a rather fetching blue.
Hmm, I don’t have many blue clematis…
Lovely selection of Clematis. I’d love a colonnade of Clematis!
It seemed a good name for an archway hosting a number of them…!