I will lay my cards on the table right from the start and tell you I am sharing six clematis today, six of many, starting with Clematis viticella ‘Dark Eyes’, not too dissimilar to ‘Étoile Violette’ but with, would you believe it, dark eyes! This is growing on a trellis attached to the wall behind one of the bold borders. Below we have the larger flowers of C Viticella ‘Pernille’, on the colonnade:
Sharing the colonnade, amongst others, are the pretty trumpets of ‘Queen Mother’ and the dishevelled rosettes of C ‘Purpurea Plena Elegans’, both viticella types:
Not flowering when our visitors were here but now making up for it adjacent to the blue & white border is ‘John Huxtable’:
There is an archway in front of the gate that leads to the cutting beds and working greenhouse, on one side of which is group 2 clematis ‘Franziska Maria’; most visitors talked about how wonderful the clematis were, but this is the individual one that was most commented on, presumably because of its almost ball-shaped flowers. Probably one of my oldest clematis, she is certainly flowering more profusely and for longer than she ever has done, but curiously I am not sure that I would be choosing her if I was stocking up on clematis now – partly because of the pruning group she comes under, but also perhaps because of her showiness, which perhaps sounds a bit odd. However, the longer flowering period she is displaying this year has pushed her up a degree in my estimation!
The clematis really are stunning this year, and I am pleased to be able to share a few more of them with you on Six on Saturday, the meme hosted by Jon the Propagator – I am sure there will be other clematis to enjoy, so do pop over and take a look.
Rambling in the Garden 
Thank you, I want to add a clematis or two to my garden, but haven’t thought about what colour. These have given me something to think about.
I would go for viticella clematis every time, Rosie, and buying from a specialust as there will be far more choice (although it sometimes depends on the time of year)
Such beautiful flowers! Thus far, I’ve only managed to keep one Clematis (with small white flowers) alive.
Yes, the UK is a great climate for clematis, I think – and the specialists recommend regular wateringvas well as a feeding regime. I have done the feeding bit, but am not so good with the watering – and as I have a lot of them it takes time and it’s easy to forget some!
well…I am doing something wrong. Mine is pitiful.
I think feeding mine this year has definitely given them a boost, Beverley
Like your Dark Eyes and John Huxtable very much. I think the viticellas are such good value, a lot of flowers for your money!
Oh definitely – I would always go for them these days! 👍
Quite a collection! Clematis can be very difficult here due to fungal diseases, yours look wonderful. I think Queen Mother is my favorite.
Yes, she’s a lovely shape, isn’t she? Shame about the likelihood of fungal diseases 😩 I have lost one to slime flux this year although it is still possible it will regenerate…
There are a couple of native clematis that will grow here – one called Fairy Hats – similar to Queen mother and another, Sweet Autumn, you may see that one in the UK? I don’t have either, vines are scary here. I had forgotten about slime flux, yuck!
Haveen’t come across SWeet Autumn…
It is a sweetly scented late blooming Clematis, very prolific cream colored flowers.
So beautiful!
They are all so beautiful, and giving magnificent displays, which I am envious of as I have not been successful growing even the hardiest one here!
Sorry to hear they don’t do well for you – is it too dry, do you think?
No not to dry, as I regularly water my garden. I think it’s just the excessive heat and humidity combination.
Always interesting to hear about fellow blogger’s climates – thank you
Divine! I adore the colours and you are blessed to have so much garden architecture to grow them up. I especially like those trumpets, with the little flicked back petals, of ‘Queen Mother’
Thanks – and structures are definitely a good way to get extra growing space! 😁
Those are lovely. Years ago I tried to grow some Clematis but all wee eaten by slugs or something. Maybe I should try again.
Best to buy a more mature plant which is more likely to survive any munching of the new shoots – it has certainly never been an issue since I did so. I know you wouldn’t use pellets, but it would be worth using some deterrent or barrier in the early weeks if you thought it was likely to be a problem
Thank you for the advice. I think I need to grow any plant on in a pot for a while where slugs would find it hard to get at it.
Increasingly I am doing that with new plants, as I have realised that over the years I have lost countless plants because they don’t really get the opportunity to thrive
Glad it isn’t just me!
You have so many gorgeous clematis, and a few special coloumns and walls to grow them against , so many thanks for sharing them.
Yes, structures cry out for clematis to adorn them!
Oh my, John Huxtable is exquisite! Well, they are all exquisite. Except for a few North American species, Clematis does not like our climate.
Haha, yes, I know you like your whites, Tony – you will like my vase this week then! 😁
Oh, yes, I saw it!
John Huxtable is wonderful! Looks even better in the garden than in your vase today! 😃 (I’m a bit behind reading blogs!)
Yes he is, although Prince George who is also white is possibly even better, but he is not flowering yet. Other than IAVOM I tend to catch up on blogs at the w/e so am generally very ‘late’!
Your clematis are fabulous. A lot of mine are late this year for some reason. And Polish Spirit which is supposed to be failproof has failed to flower yet again!
A few of mine are still not flowering – one of them is always much later but not so the others. I am trying to remember to water them regularly (to go my original feeding efforts!), particularly now