Clematis Vostok

Clematis 'Vostok' is a climbing clematis prized for its exceptional summer flowering and robustness. From July to September, it produces medium-sized star-shaped flowers with 6 distinct, rounded sepals in a fairly light purple or mauve-purple colour. They are marked with dark pink midribs and punctuated with a dense cluster of bright yellow stamens with pink anthers. Its highly undulate margins and deep veins contribute to its wild yet distinguished appearance. This deciduous hardy climber is easy to grow, and its compact size makes it suitable for container cultivation. It simply requires a partially sunny location and moist, well-drained, and fertile soil.

The cultivar 'Vostok' is a hybrid clematis of Ukrainian origin from 1963, only marketed for about a dozen years. Its name means "East". Clematis is a deciduous climber belonging to the Ranunculaceae family. Like most of its cousins, it prefers light, deep, moist, and fertile soil that is preferably neutral. It enjoys a sunny or partially shaded position, with its base always in shade. It resists cold temperatures and is not afraid of frost, even if prolonged. However, it does not tolerate stagnant humidity, so the substrate must be well-drained and watering should be moderate (if necessary, during the first year). It can be grown in a container if the pot is large enough (minimum 60cm (24in) in diameter.

'Vostok' can reach a height of 2.5m (8ft) and a width of 2m (7ft). It is a Group 2 clematis, which means it has large flowers and blooms in spring, with a second flowering in late summer. The lignified stems from the previous year bear the spring flowers, which are sometimes double. The herbaceous branches from the current year bear the late summer flowering. The second wave of flowers are single stars. They are normally composed of 6 tepals with a diameter of 10 to 15cm (4 to 6in). They have a large centre filled with bristly stamens. Afterwards, they transform into dry fruits with persistent feathery aigrettes in winter. The deciduous and medium green leaves are composed of 3 to 5 leaflets. They are carried by voluble petioles called tendrils that wrap themselves around their support.

Plant spring bulbs and ground-cover perennials, such as blue or white geraniums, at its base and enjoy the show with minimal maintenance. If you have a larger space, this vigorous clematis can weave through bushes or up a column, adding verticality to a colourful flower bed. Large-flowered repeat-blooming clematis are the best companions for roses. 'Vostok' will perfectly complement compositions in blue, purple, and pink. It will bring brightness to shaded areas. Pair it with variegated evergreen shrubs or climbers with pink and white flowers like some ivies or weigela.