The Top Clematises

#1: Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis terniflora)

@critterologist says, "THUG ALERT! Even cutting it completely to the ground in early spring didn't stop it from taking over a trellis to either side in addition to its own space. When I put it in, I also didn't realize it was invasive -- and there's just no way to deadhead every bloom. I dug mine up, threw it out, and I'm still pulling seedlings out here and there 3 years later."

• Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis terniflora)
• Uploaded by jmorth

• Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis terniflora)
• Uploaded by jmorth

#2: Clematis (Clematis 'Nelly Moser')

@plantladylin says, "I don't know anything about Clematises, but I've planted a few over the years, and 'Nelly Moser' is the only one that has survived and does well here in my zone 9b garden. I've seen really beautiful "Clems" in northern gardens and was so happy to finally find one that will grow in hot, humid Florida! I'm sure 'Nelly Moser' probably performs better in cooler climates, but I'm just happy it's still growing and doing okay in my garden. It was originally planted in full shade beneath a large Schefflera tree, but the winter of 2009/2010 killed the tree, and this Clematis still seems to be happy in full sun. I keep a thick layer of mulch in the flower bed, which helps to keep the roots cool during the heat of summer, but I may end up transplanting it to another shady area because the sun seems to fade the blooms, and I think the blooms are more vivid and much prettier when the plant is grown in shade. I read that this particular Clematis blooms on old canes, so it's never been pruned. It blooms from mid-March through April here in my garden and I consider it an easy, low-maintenance plant."

• Clematis 'Nelly Moser'
• Uploaded by mistyfog

• Clematis 'Nelly Moser'
• Uploaded by goldfinch4

#3: Clematis (Clematis x jackmanii 'Jackmanii')

@goldfinch4 says, "Jackmanii was the first of the modern hybrid large-flowered clematis to be grown in gardens and it continues to be very popular today. Many sources list it as hardy to zone 4, but in a more protected location it has been known to be hardy to zone 3. Since it gets so large, a sturdy support or trellis will be needed. It will tolerate being planted close to black walnut trees. Does not do well in heavy clay soils."

• Clematis 'Jackmanii'
• Uploaded by tabby

• Clematis 'Jackmanii'
• Uploaded by Cat

#4: Clematis (Clematis 'Rooguchi')

@Cottage_Rose says, "This variety and Sweet Autumn Clematis are the best Clematis I have ever grown in my no fuss garden. It blooms just about non stop throughout the growing season. VERY carefree and easy to grow!"

@BookerC1 added, "The description on my plant tag, from Donahue's Clematis, reads:
The 2" bell-shaped flowers are intense deep blue/purple with lighter blue recurved petals. Flowers fade to indigo blue. Blooms June-September. Shade roots to keep roots cool and moist.""

• Clematis 'Roguchi'
• Uploaded by Calif_Sue

• Clematis 'Roguchi'
• Uploaded by Calif_Sue

#5: Clematis (Clematis viticella 'Venosa Violacea')

@goldfinch4 says, "Venosa Violcea means "violet veins." To encourage new growth, give it a light pruning when the first round of flowers is fading. This should produce another round of flowers. Has excellent resistance to clematis wilt. Very vigorous and free-flowering. You won't be disappointed with this one!"

@pirl added, "The color for Venosa Violacea is shown as purple. Is there a way to add the secondary color of near white?"

• Clematis (Clematis viticella 'Venosa Violacea')
• Uploaded by tabby

• Clematis (Clematis viticella 'Venosa Violacea')
• Uploaded by beckygardener

#6: Clematis (Clematis 'Multi Blue')

@clintbrown says, "The blooms are very vibrant and double/semi-double at times."

• Clematis 'Multi Blue'
• Uploaded by Kell

• Clematis 'Multi Blue'
• Uploaded by stilldew

#7: Clematis (Clematis Josephine™)

@goldfinch4 says, "With age, the outer tepals fall off, creating a pompom. This clematis has no anthers. Can get strange green flowers if planted in too much shade, but does best with some shade to prevent fading."

• Clematis Josephine™
• Uploaded by zuzu

• Clematis Josephine™
• Uploaded by Moby

#8: Clematis (Clematis 'Ville de Lyon')

@goldfinch4 says, "A beautiful clematis to grow through evergreen shrubs. In early summer it has medium to large flowers, later in the summer the flowers are a bit smaller. The tepals are slightly recurved.

Parentage: 'Viviand Morel' x c. Texensis'"

• Clematis 'Ville de Lyon'
• Uploaded by pirl

• Clematis 'Ville de Lyon'
• Uploaded by Paul2032

#9: Clematis (Clematis Blue Light™)

@goldfinch4 says, "Is a sport of Clematis Mrs. Cholmondeley. Can have single and double flowers at the same time."

@BookerC1 added, "This clematis produces quite large sky-blue blossoms. They may appear to be single blossoms when they initially open, but they then continue to open over a long period of time, until the same bloom is nearly a pom-pom. You may also experience double blooms on the first flush of blooms, and then later a second set of blooms that remain single.

This clematis took a bit longer to get established than some, growing slowly and only producing a few blooms the first couple of years. They appreciate some shade at their base (head in the sun, feet in the shade), if you can plant a low clumping plant at the base.

This is a really spectacular clematis, and well worth the patience it takes to reach that first year of really heavy bloom!"

• Clematis Blue Light™
• Uploaded by goldfinch4

• Clematis Blue Light™
• Uploaded by goldfinch4

#10: Clematis (Clematis Pink Chiffon™)

@BookerC1 says, "This clematis is a strong grower, and will reach full size in only a couple of years. If pruned hard in very early spring, it will be covered in pink blossoms in late spring. Dead-heading after blooming may bring about a second flush of blooms in the fall."

• Clematis Pink Chiffon™
• Uploaded by BookerC1

• Clematis Pink Chiffon™
• Uploaded by robertduval14

#11: American Virgin's Bower (Clematis virginiana)

@mellielong says, "The book "How to Know the Wildflowers" (1922) by Mrs William Starr Dana gives the common names of "Traveller's Joy" and "Virgin's Bower". The author states that the plant blooms in July and August, while "later in the year the seeds with their silvery plumes give a feathery effect." She also makes note of experiments Darwin conducted with Clematis. Whether she is referring to this particular species or the whole genus is unknown, but she lists it under this species. Anyway, she states that Darwin was conducting experiments regarding the movements of the young shoots of the plant. He discovered that "one revolved, describing a broad oval, in five hours, thirty minutes; and another in six hours, twelve minutes; they follow the course of the sun.""

• American Virgin's Bower (Clematis virginiana)
• Uploaded by pirl

• American Virgin's Bower (Clematis virginiana)
• Uploaded by Joy

#12: Clematis (Clematis viticella 'Polish Spirit')

@goldfinch4 says, "One of the easiest clematises to grow, it's very vigorous, disease resistant, and blooms for a long time. Brother Stefan gave this seedling to Evison, who introduced it in 1990, naming it for the indomitable spirit he had observed in the Polish people living under the Soviet Union's control."

• Clematis (Clematis viticella 'Polish Spirit')
• Uploaded by Calif_Sue

• Clematis (Clematis viticella 'Polish Spirit')
• Uploaded by Kell

#13: Clematis (Clematis integrifolia)

@Mindy03 says, "Honey bees get pollen from this plant."

• Clematis (Clematis integrifolia)
• Uploaded by 4susiesjoy

• Clematis (Clematis integrifolia)
• Uploaded by fixpix

#14: Clematis (Clematis 'Warsaw Nike')

@goldfinch4 says, "Very velvety deep colored flowers. Once established will do quite well in poor soil. Warsaw Nike is named for the Greek goddess of Victory ("NEE-keh").

Warszawska Nike is pronounced `Var sharv ska Nee ka`."

@BookerC1 added, "Shade roots to keep soil cool and moist. Like many clematis, prefers its "feet in the shade and head in the sun." Blooms late May through September for me."

• Clematis 'Warszawska Nike'
• Uploaded by BookerC1

• Clematis 'Warszawska Nike'
• Uploaded by tveguy3

#15: Clematis (Clematis viticella 'Etoile Violette')

@goldfinch4 says, "This is such a hardy plant that it has escaped cultivation to naturalize in the northeast corner of the Great Lakes region. It produces a huge amount of flowers that will have either 4 or 6 tepals. Has a slight tendency to wilt. It's one of the few plants that tolerates black walnut tress."

• Clematis (Clematis viticella 'Etoile Violette')
• Uploaded by kniphofia

• Clematis (Clematis viticella 'Etoile Violette')
• Uploaded by bedofroses

#16: Clematis (Clematis 'Miss Bateman')

@goldfinch4 says, "When flowers first open they have a light green bar that eventually fades until the flower is completely white. It's named for Catherine Bateman, the daughter of famous orchid grower, James Bateman. Since 'Miss Bateman' blooms so heavily during the spring, some recommend a bloom-booster fertilizer after its initial flowering to increase the strength of autumn rebloom.

Parentage: 'Fortunei' x 'Standishii'"

• Clematis 'Miss Bateman'
• Uploaded by Kell

• Clematis 'Miss Bateman'
• Uploaded by chelle

#17: Clematis (Clematis Rosemoor™)

@goldfinch4 says, "Part of the Evison/Poulsen 'Gardini' group. Named after the Royal Horticultural Society garden show. Very long blooming - four weeks or more."

@BookerC1 added, "Very attractive single-flower form, with reddish-purple blooms and bright yellow stamens. Mine has stayed about 4' tall over the course of 5 years, and blooms prolifically over about a 3 week period. If dead-headed, it will usually produce a second, smaller flush of flowers late in the summer."

• Clematis Rosemoor™
• Uploaded by BookerC1

• Clematis Rosemoor™
• Uploaded by clintbrown

#18: Clematis (Clematis 'Omoshiro')

@goldfinch4 says, "The back of each flower is a solid pink color, the front of each tepal is white edged in pink. Very light fragrance. Omoshiro means amusing and also white surface."

@pirl added, "2011 was a very cool spring so blooms were delayed from the normal May opening to July."

• Clematis 'Omoshiro'
• Uploaded by pirl

• Clematis 'Omoshiro'
• Uploaded by pirl

#19: Clematis (Clematis 'Henryi')

@pirl says, "Very easy to layer and often does it without human intervention."

• Clematis 'Henryi'
• Uploaded by goldfinch4

• Clematis 'Henryi'
• Uploaded by goldfinch4

#20: Clematis (Clematis viticella 'Purpurea Plena Elegans')

@BookerC1 says, "Vigorous grower and bloomer. Blooms are small, around 1" diameter, and very double."

• Clematis (Clematis viticella 'Purpurea Plena Elegans')
• Uploaded by zuzu

• Clematis (Clematis viticella 'Purpurea Plena Elegans')
• Uploaded by bpsgarden

#21: Clematis (Clematis texensis 'Duchess of Albany')

@goldfinch4 says, "Very fast-growing clematis in my zone 4 garden - about 12 feet in one summer. Each winter the rabbits eat it down to the ground. A few times I thought I lost it, but it always comes back. It's in full sun up again the side of the garage where it gets extra heat reflected from the building and it takes the heat very well."

• Clematis (Clematis texensis 'Duchess of Albany')
• Uploaded by pirl

• Clematis (Clematis texensis 'Duchess of Albany')
• Uploaded by Cem9165

#22: Clematis (Clematis Rebecca™)

@goldfinch4 says, "Named after Raymond Evison's eldest daughter. Part of the Gardini Collection. Good repeat bloomer."

• Clematis Rebecca™
• Uploaded by venu209

• Clematis Rebecca™
• Uploaded by Calif_Sue

#23: Clematis (Clematis 'Ramona')

@pniksch says, "Fantastic bloomer!"

• Clematis 'Ramona'
• Uploaded by pniksch

• Clematis 'Ramona'
• Uploaded by victor

#24: Clematis (Clematis 'Proteus')

@BookerC1 says, "This is a very showy bloom! The first blooms of the year are sometimes single, though later blooms are very full and ruffled. I planted mine on the same trellis as an older dark purple Jackmanii, and the contrast between the two is very striking. I had envisioned the Proteus and Jackmanii blooming together, but thus far the Proteus has stayed fairly small, around 2 feet tall, while the Jackmanii has spread past the top of the trelllis and throughout the branches of the Redbud tree behind it. It is still a striking effect when they both bloom, but an entirely different effect than I'd planned. I think some radical pruning of the Jackmanii is in order."

• Clematis 'Proteus'
• Uploaded by meadowyck

• Clematis 'Proteus'
• Uploaded by Carolyn22

#25: Clematis (Clematis durandii)

@stetchworth says, "Lovely shade of blue. You have to train and tie this one to a trellis or you can just let it ramble through the other plants."

@SongofJoy added, "Clematis durandii, a hybrid in the Clematis integrifolia group, is a non-twining perennial vine that grows 6 to 10 feet long. Valued for its long and profuse flowering from June to September, it is easy to grow in full sun or light shade and good soil. Blooms start as deep blue/violet nodding bells, then open up to 4 inches, spreading, and flat. It looks great tied up to a support or scrambling. Blooms form on the current/new growth so plants should be pruned in late winter or early spring to two strong sets of buds on each stem."

• Clematis (Clematis durandii)
• Uploaded by goldfinch4

• Clematis (Clematis durandii)
• Uploaded by HamiltonSquare