1. Aotearoa
This clematis cultivar produces an abundance of purple, three- to five-inch star-shaped flowers with contrasting yellow stamens bloom from mid-summer to early fall.
Elegant sepals are slightly recurved at the tips, giving them a graceful, whimsical appearance. Light green leaves are tinged with red around the edges.
These lovely flowers thrive just as well in shady locations as they do in full sun. This is a wonderful performer when growing over arbors, fences, and with climbing roses.
Aotearoa is the Te Reo Maori word for New Zealand, which translates to “the land of the long white cloud.”
‘Aotearoa’ grows nine to 12 feet long and can be pruned to a strong set of buds about 12 inches above the ground in early spring. This cultivar is hardy in Zones 3 to 11.
2. Arabella
One of the most popular non-vining clematis varieties, ‘Arabella’ bears six-sepaled star-shaped flowers of deep amethyst that start out with a reddish tint.
The three- to four-inch flowers have cream white stamens and bloom over an exceptionally long season, from early summer to early fall, with blooms followed by ornate, plumed seed heads.
A non-climber, it prefers a full sun location. Its upright growth looks magnificent as a ground cover or container specimen, or weaving through shrubs and deciduous trees.
‘Arabella’
Hardy in Zones 4 to 10, it quickly grows three to five feet in length. Prune in late winter or early spring, cutting back to a set of strong buds about eight inches above the ground.
You can find ‘Arabella’ plants in two-and-a-half-inch pots available from Hirt’s Gardens via Walmart.
3. Avant Garde
A large flowering clematis hybrid, ‘Avant Garde’ has stunning, two-inch double flowers of deep, velvety magenta with a center consisting of dahlia-like sepals in flamingo pink.
Bred from disease resistant species, this vigorous plant produces an abundance of flowers.
A robust but well-behaved climber, the two-tone flowers pop among the deep green leaves.
It loves to climb with its head in the sun, and really shines when scrambling over supports such as arbors, fences, and pergolas.
‘Avant Garde’
Hardy in Zones 4 to 9, it needs a full sun location. Cut it back hard in early spring to six to 12 inches, above pairs of healthy buds.
Container plants are available at Nature Hills Nursery.
4. Blue Ravine
With large flowers of six to eight inches in diameter, ‘Blue Ravine’ blooms are a beautiful mauve tone with darker mid-veins and vibrant magenta anthers.
A multi-stemmed vine with a handsome twining or trailing habit, flowering takes place in late spring and early summer with a lighter rebloom in late summer to early fall.
‘Blue Ravine’
Ideal for container growth as a thriller on a small trellis or spilling over the edges, the vines grow six to nine feet and are hardy in Zones 4 to 9.
Prune following the Group 2 guidelines in our clematis growing guide. Nursery container plants are available at Burpee.
5. Diamantina
A vibrant rebloomer, Diamantina™ (‘Evipo039’) sports richly colored, blue-violet flowers with magenta highlights that grow four to six inches wide.
The first bloom in late spring produces fully double, dahlia-like flowers while the second, late summer bloom provides elegant single flowers.
The compact vines make a stylish display climbing a trellis in containers, city or courtyard gardens, and foundation plantings, or as a vibrant spiller in mixed planters. Hardy in Zones 4 to 9.
Diamantina
Vines grow six to eight feet long and are pruned for Group 2 – a tidy up and light trim in early spring followed by regular deadheading to encourage reblooming.
You can find Diamantina™ clematis plants available at Nature Hills Nursery.
6. Edda
A compact charmer from the Boulevard® series, Edda™ (‘Evipo074’) produces masses of dramatic, three- to five-inch flowers from late spring to early autumn.
The plush royal purple petals are adorned with magenta bars and anthers.
Edda
A beautiful choice for containers, small gardens, and patios, Edda grows three to four feet and is hardy in Zones 4 to 9. Prune as for Group 3, cutting back all vines in late winter.
You can find plants available at Nature Hills Nursery.
7. Ernest Markham
With large, velvety flowers of raspberry red and contrasting creamy filaments tipped with chocolate anthers, ‘Ernest Markham’ makes a striking vertical display.
The four- to six-inch blooms are free flowering from midsummer to fall.
This clematis cultivar makes a handsome specimen in containers, flowerbeds in cottage and courtyard gardens, or climbing up trellises and through shrubs.
‘Ernest Markham’
It grows 10 to 12 feet and requires a full to part-sun location.
Hardy in Zones 4 to 8, it can be pruned in late winter or early spring. Cut just above a set of strong leaf buds, eight to 18 inches above the ground.
Plants in one-gallon pots are available at Burpee.
8. Golden Tiara
This vigorous climber in sunshine yellow has a pleasant fragrance and puts on a long lasting, showy display from early June through September.
The two- to four-inch nodding, lantern-like flowers provide spectacular contrast from the magenta anthers and are followed by large, fluffy seed heads that birds like to use as nesting materials.
With a strong twining habit, this clematis loves to climb up arbors and trellises or through shrubs, making a striking summer screen.
Growing 10 to 15 feet, it likes a full sun location and is hardy in Zones 3 to 9. Cut vines back hard in early spring to 10 to 18 inches, just above a strong set of buds.
9. Hagley Hybrid
A compact vine, ‘Hagley Hybrid’ features a profuse display of showy, eight-sepaled flowers in chiffon pink from May through September.
The large, six- to eight-inch flowers have an opalescent shine that is beautifully highlighted by the dark ruby anthers.
This free flowering vine prefers partial shade, and is an ideal choice to brighten up dark corners on the deck or patio while twining up trellises or through hedges and shrubs.
And its tidy growth makes it a choice selection for containers.
‘Hagley Hybrid’
Hardy in Zones 4 to 11, it grows seven to 10 feet. Prune hard in late winter or early spring to a set of healthy buds about 12 inches above the ground.
You can find plants in four-inch containers available from Wekiva Foliage via Walmart.
10. Happy Jack Purple
Large and velvety plum-colored flowers have a pretty yellow throat and anthers that give charming contrast.
The three- to five-inch blooms are long-lasting and appear from late June through September.
Highly ornamental with a tidy habit, it’s attractive as a back border planting, in containers, or clambering up supports like arbors and trellises.
Happy Jack Purple
Hardy in Zones 5 to 9, this clematis likes a full to partial sun location and grows six to eight feet.
Prune vines back in early spring to one to to feet above the ground, leaving two sets of strong buds in place.
Plants in quart-sized containers are available at Home Depot.
11. Jackmanii
An old-fashioned favorite with large velvety flowers of royal purple with magenta ribs and creamy anthers.
Masses of five to seven-inch blooms appear from mid-June to September, and silky platinum or rosy colored seed heads add interest right through autumn.
This prolific clematis vine provides spectacular vertical highlights in the garden. A good climber for arbors, fences, and trellises, it’s also striking as a ground cover or twining through shrubs.
‘Jackmanii’
This cultivar grows 10 to 12 feet, requires full sun, and is hardy in Zones 4 to 9. Prune hard in late winter or early spring to a pair of strong buds about 12 inches from the ground.
You can pick up container plants at Nature Hills Nursery.
12. Kitty
A compact, bushy clematis vine with mounded growth, Kitty™ (‘Evipo097’) sports sumptuous, bright white flowers with delicate purple anthers measuring three to four inches.
Very free flowering with two bloom times on multiple vines that grow only three to four feet, the first flush of flowers is in early to midsummer with a second, lighter flush in late summer to fall.
This member of the Boulevard® series is superb choice for city and courtyard gardens, containers and patio planters, or wall side borders.
Kitty
Hardy in Zones 4 to 9, prune for Group 2 – remove dead and damaged vines in late winter then deadhead regularly to promote more flowers.
Plants in one-gallon containers are available at Nature Hills Nursery.
13. Mrs. Robert Brydon
Masses of small, half-inch flowers with lavender sepals and prominent platinum stamens form the sparkling clusters that ‘Mrs. Robert Brydon’ is known for.
Blooming from mid- to late summer amid dark green foliage, the flowers are followed by silky seed heads.
