Clematis patens Abilène - Early Large-flowered Clematis

The Abilene Clematis 'Evipo027' is a stout small liana with a pretty pink flowering, early and abundant in spring, flowering again in late summer. Its single flowers open in a beautiful deep pink, then gradually fade while retaining a zone of deep pink in the center of each petal; the overall effect is a lovely gradient of pink on the plant. Its small size and floribundity make it a perfect candidate for ornamenting patios, terraces, balconies, and small gardens.

Clematis belong to the Ranunculaceae family. They are found in Europe, the Himalayas, China, Australia, and North and Central America. The 'Abilene' variety, recently introduced in England by Evison, is a perfectly perennial, semi-woody, climbing plant that will reach approximately 1.50m (5ft) in height, with a spread of 1m (3ft). This clematis bears large flowers measuring 8 to 12cm (3 to 5in) in diameter, which appear on the previous year's shoots in May-June, then on the current year's shoots in August-September depending on the climate. The flowers are solitary and have 6 to 8 wide pointed tepals with undulate edges, resembling leaves, slightly folded along the midrib, slightly overlapping. Their colour ranges from different shades of pink, with a large central zone of deep pink giving each flower a beautiful bicoloured effect. The center of the flower is adorned with a beautiful crown of yellow stamens. The flowering is followed by decorative silver-gray feathery fruits that persist until winter. The glabrous leaves are divided into 3 elliptical to lanceolate leaflets, dark green in colour. This clematis firmly clings to the support or host plant by means of petioles transformed into tendrils. Its deciduous foliage is absent in winter.

Plant your clematis alongside your climbing roses ('New Dawn', 'Mme Caroline Testout', 'Zephyrine Drouhin'), to extend the flowering of your walls and pergolas until the end of summer. This is a genus rich in diversity, with flowers of all colours, shapes, and sizes. Take advantage of their easy cultivation to give your garden a romantic and bohemian touch. 'Abilene' will pair well with the blue flowers of the Hudson River Clematis, the violet of Romantika, or the white of the 'Superba' or 'Miss Bateman' varieties, for example, to climb a fence or cover a wall exposed to the morning sun. Sweet peas also accompany small clematis, providing them with fragrance.

Tips: Avoid excessive fertilization that stimulates foliage growth at the expense of flowers. Do not mulch to avoid excessive moisture.