Clematis patens Vyvyan Pennell

Clematis 'Vyvyan Pennell' enlivens the garden in June with its large, double flowers, rich in shades of blue, mauve, lilac, and pink. It flowers again in late summer in the form of large single stars. It is one of the most floriferous among the double-flowered Clematis patens, and certainly the most vigorous. It thrives on old walls, trellises, pergolas, and fences, and enjoys climbing small trees. Its long-lasting flowers are sublime in romantic bouquets. A variety as beautiful as it is unique that every clematis enthusiast should plant.

The genus Clematis belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. 'Vyvyan Pennell' is an old cultivar, obtained in 1954 in England from a cross between C. 'Daniel Deronda' and C. 'Beauty of Worcester'. It is a woody climbing perennial plant with short stems that will not exceed 3.5m (11ft) in height, with a spread of 1m² (3ft²). The deciduous leaves are a fairly dark green, composed of 3 ovate to lanceolate leaflets, measuring 3 to 7cm (1 to 3in) long and 1.5 to 5cm (1 to 2in) wide, with relatively prominent veins. The flowers, 12 to 15cm (5 to 6in) wide, bloom abundantly in spring on one-year-old stems, and again in late summer on the current year's growth. Those in June consist of a collar of elliptical and tapering tepals surrounding a fluffy pompom-like centre of small fringed tepals that open slowly. The centre of the flower is occupied by creamy-yellow stamens. The flowers give way to feathery and silky silver-coloured fruits, which are very decorative. This clematis clings to the support or host plant through voluble stems with petioles transformed into tendrils. This variety has good health and hardiness.

Plant your clematis alongside climbing roses to prolong the flowering period of walls and pergolas until the end of summer. It is a diverse genus, with varieties available in all colours, shapes, and sizes. Take advantage of their easy cultivation to give your garden, as well as your balcony, a romantic and bohemian touch. The famous 'Vyvyan Pennell', with its sumptuous flowers, will be perfect trained against a wall. Thanks to its moderate growth, it will easily find its place in all gardens and will be quite happy in a large pot on a balcony or next to a doorway. It looks lovely when paired with roses Albertine or Penny Lane.