Clematis texensis Princess Diana - Scarlet Leather Flower

The Clematis x texensis 'Princess Diana' is a hybrid of the Texas clematis that stands out with its upright flowers resembling small tulips. Their very vibrant colour, an intense pink leaning towards red, pairs perfectly with all end-of-summer and autumn colours. They appear abundantly in the second part of summer, on a small vine that grows like an herbaceous perennial and will not exceed 2m (7ft) in a year. It can crawl and wrap itself around low bushes, with simultaneous or staggered flowering. It can be grown in ordinary but well-drained soil, in full sun or partial shade. Vigorous when planted in the ground, it also adapts very well to container cultivation.

The 'Princess Diana' clematis was obtained by crossing the Clematis texensis, a botanic species endemic to Texas, and the 'Bee's Jubilee' clematis. It belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. It is a small herbaceous vine with a perennial stump, whose growth occurs in spring and disappears with the first cold weather. Its growth generally reaches 1.50m (5ft) in all directions. Flowering occurs from late July to September-October, depending on the regions. A sunny exposure in northern regions is essential to obtain numerous flowers, while partial shade is preferred in our warmer regions. Its flowers form on the current year's stems. They have the shape of upright tulips with 4 petals fused at the base, and measure 5 to 7cm (2 to 3in) in diameter. The petals, quite thick, have a slightly waxy texture. Their colour is a pure and vibrant pink-red. After flowering, feathery and silvery fruits form. The foliage is composed of fairly dark green, ovate and pointed leaves, carried by petioles that curl around any support available, allowing the plant to firmly cling. All vegetation disappears in winter as it decomposes. This clematis is a robust and sturdy plant that tolerates dry soils in summer quite well.