Clematis Madame Julia Correvon

Clematis Madame Julia Correvon is a climbing perennial with a long and generous flowering. Its multiple flowers are a deep pink that often turns into a vibrant burgundy red. They bloom in bell-shaped clusters that open up to reveal a ball-like centre of yellow stamens in the middle of summer. This flowering continues into autumn and is followed by the feathery and airy seed heads. Low-maintenance and not sensitive to wind, it is easy to grow and can be used to cover arches, tree trunks, and trellises.

This cultivar originated in France in the early 20th century. This long-forgotten descendant of 'Ville de Lyon' was eventually rediscovered towards the end of the century and was later awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society of England in 1993. This clematis belongs to the Ranunculaceae family and, like most of its counterparts, prefers light, deep, moist, neutral, fertile soil. It thrives in a sunny or partially shaded location, with its base always in the shade. It is hardy so will withstand cold temperatures and frosts, even severe ones. However, it does not like stagnant moisture, so the substrate must be well-draining and watering should be moderate but may be necessary, especially during the first year.

'Madame Julia Correvon' can reach 3m (10ft) and bears single flowers with a diameter of approximately 6-7cm (2-3in), which bloom from July to September at least. These flowers consist of four to six ovate tepals that taper to a point. They have an original characteristic, they tend to curl at their tips to reveal a light pink reverse. When fully open in a star shape, they display a cream-coloured stamen centre with light green highlights. These stamens are long and generously spreading and contrast sharply with the ruby colour of the tepals. This subtle hue hovers between dark pink and burgundy red for a long time and this combination varies greatly depending on the exposure, it appears more pink in the sun and red in the shade. After the flowers, seed heads will decorate the foliage and last until winter. The deciduous leaves are composed of 3 to 5 vibrant or dark green leaflets (depending on the exposure), providing a lovely background for the flowers. They are borne on twisting stems that twine around their support.

'Madame Correvon' is not delicate, but it is beautiful with long, and colourful flowering. You can stay within the same colour palette and pair it with the Fragrant Cloud Lonicera periclymenum to enjoy its fragrance on a fence or trellis. In the back of a border, it will mingle with its cousins 'Black Prince' and 'I am red Robin', enhancing its brightness. And if you like contrasts, a beautiful climbing rose with light hues will easily colonise a tree trunk alongside it.