Clematis viticella 'Purpurea Plena Elegans'

The Clematis viticella 'Purpurea Plena Elegans' is a descendant of the genuinely original Italian clematis, with its flowers' unique shape and colour. Not very large, they are double and display an unusual colour that hesitates between red wine, bordeaux, and violet, sometimes considered dull. A slight lack of brightness that is more than compensated by the vigour and generosity of this plant, which flowers abundantly from early summer and for several weeks. Clematis from C.viticella are robust climbers, not very demanding in terms of soil, less capricious than large-flowered clematis, and not very susceptible to wilting disease.

The genus Clematis belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. 'Purpurea Plena Elegans' is a very old French variety (F. Morel 1899), derived from the Clematis viticella native to southern Europe. It belongs to clematis that bloom in summer on new growth. It is a semi-woody and vigorous climbing perennial plant that quickly reaches 3 to 4 metres (10 to 13 feet), with a spread of 1.50 square metres, sometimes more, depending on the growing conditions.

This clematis bears double pompom-shaped flowers, generally 4 to 6 cm (2in) in diameter, sometimes larger, from June to September-October, mainly in the upper half of the plant. In very dry summers, flowering will quickly decline. The flowers, devoid of stamens, are solitary and erect or pendulous. Each flower lasts about three weeks and fades beautifully. They open on stems that reach a minimum length. They have numerous slightly curled tepals, ranging from dark red to grey-white on the reverse side. The outer tepals are sometimes green, and the centre of the flower is pinker. Decorative feathery fruits, grey with a silvery tinge, follow the flowering. The leaves are divided into small ovate to lanceolate leaflets, olive green with irregularly serrated edges. This clematis clings to its support or the host plant through modified petioles that become tendrils.

Plant your clematis alongside your climbing roses or vines to extend the flowering of your 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 the ease of growing varieties derived from C.viticella to give your garden a romantic and bohemian touch. "Purpurea Plena Elegans" is a plant that can be easily cultivated in ordinary soil and a sunny, but not scorching, exposure. One can allow it to climb a shrub with a different flowering time, such as lilac, mock orange, or Japanese quince. It looks stunning when combined with white roses.