Clematis x viticella Voluceau

Clematis 'Voluceau' is another French variety derived from the famous C. 'Ville de Lyon', which is deep red, and the lesser-known C. viticella 'Pourpre Mat', with very dark purple flowers. The flowers of 'Voluceau' are a dark pinkish-red, with wide and undulating petals that lighten over time to a lovely velvety magenta-pink hue. This superb descendant of the Italian clematis, appreciated for its amazing disease resistance and its ability to flower and grow almost anywhere, is an easy-to-grow climbing plant with a compact habit. It produces an abundance of flowers from summer until late in the season, if weather permits.

Clematis belong to the Ranunculaceae family. They are found in Europe, the Himalayas, China, Australia, and North and Central America. The 'Voluceau' variety, obtained in 1970 by Girault, is a perfectly perennial, semi-woody and climbing herbaceous plant that will reach a height of 2m (7ft), with a minimum spread of 1m (3ft). This clematis has large, fully open flowers that can reach 8 to 10cm (3 to 4in) in diameter, which appear in successive waves on the current year's shoots from June until the end of summer. The flowers are solitary and have 4 to 6 wide, undulating petals that slightly overlap at the base. The centre of the flower is adorned with a beautiful crown of yellow stamens with purplish anthers. The flowering is followed by decorative silvery feathery fruits that persist until winter. The glabrous leaves are divided into 3 elliptical to lanceolate leaflets, of a fairly light green colour. This clematis clings to its support or host plant using petioles transformed into tendrils.

Plant your clematis alongside climbing or rambling roses ('New Dawn', 'Mme Caroline Testout', 'Zéphirine Drouhin'), to extend the flowering period of walls and pergolas until the end of summer. This is a genus rich in diversity, with varieties available in all colours, shapes, and sizes. Take advantage of their easy cultivation to give your garden a romantic and bohemian touch. 'Voluceau' pairs well with the white flowers of C. 'Superba' or C. 'Miss Bateman', for example, which are small climbers that have the same stature. They will look sublime climbing a fence or covering a wall exposed to the morning sun.

Avoid excessive use of fertiliser, as it stimulates foliage growth at the expense of flowers. Do not mulch in order to avoid excessive moisture.