Clematis Krakowiak

Clematis 'Krakowiak', is a hybrid of Clematis viticella, from which it inherited its robustness and long summer flowering. Its delicate-looking flowers appear from June in small open bells of deep pink with crumpled petals and darker pink centres. The petals are beautifully curved backwards to reveal a bright green-white centre that catches the light. Its numerous flowers and compound foliage develop quickly into a generous, delicate, light and vibrant-coloured mass. This climbing perennial is very robust and easy to grow, requiring well-drained, moist and rich soil with its head in the sun and severe pruning before its spring regrowth. Its compact size and fast-growing tendrils make it ideal for covering an unsightly fence, a plain shrub, or even a balcony railing in a pot.

Clematis belong to the Ranunculaceae family. They can be found in Europe, the Himalayas, China, Australia, and North and Central America. 'Krakowiak' is a Polish variety selected by Szczepan Marczynski and marketed since 2011. It has received several awards and stands out from other cultivars with its pink flowers. It descends from Clematis viticella, native to southern Europe, known for its natural resistance to clematis wilt. This herbaceous plant is a perennial, semi-woody climber, reaching an average height of 3m (10ft), with a spread of 1m (3ft). This clematis bears well-opened flowers up to 5 to 8cm (2 to 3in) in diameter, which appear on the current year's shoots in successive waves from June to the end of summer. The flowers are solitary or grouped in small clusters and they open into stars, revealing 4 delicately fringed, deep pink petals with reddish-pink middles. It is the light centre of the flower that gives it charm as the long, white-green stamens intensify the contrast between the light pink and dark pink of its petals. The smooth leaves are divided into 3 elliptical to lanceolate, olive green leaflets. The foliage dries up and dies in winter. This clematis clings to its support or host plant through petioles transformed into tendrils.

Plant clematis alongside your climbing roses ('New Dawn', 'Pomponella', 'Bouquet Parfait'), to extend the flowering of your walls and pergolas until the end of summer. This is a diverse genus, with flowers of all colours, shapes and sizes. Take advantage of their easy cultivation to give your garden a romantic and bohemian touch. 'Krakowiak' will pair well with the white flowers with purple-red stamens of 'Miss Bateman', for example, a small climber with a similar stature, to climb a fence or cover a wall exposed to the morning sun.

Tips: Avoid excessive fertiliser applications that stimulate foliage growth at the expense of flowers. Do not mulch, to avoid excessive moisture.