Clematis Patricia Ann Fretwell

The Clematis 'Patricia Ann Fretwell' is a climbing plant with moderate growth and a romantic and spectacular flowering. In spring, the plant produces large flowers with a very double heart in soft pink pompoms, more or less touched with slightly deeper pink, surrounded by a wider corolla of light pink petals with a median largely tinged with raspberry pink. It reblooms in September, but with single corollas. This exuberant and charming little vine settles at the base of bushes, in hedges, but also in pots or containers to adorn the terrace or balcony.

Clematis belong to the ranunculaceae family. They are found in both hemispheres, particularly in Europe, the Himalayas, China, Australia, North and Central America. The 'Patricia Ann Fretwell' variety, obtained in 1995 in England, is a perfectly perennial and hardy, semi-woody and climbing plant that will reach an average height of 2.50m (8ft), with a spread of at least 1.25m (4ft). It belongs to the group of large-flowered double clematis patens.

This clematis bears 8 to 10cm (3 to 4in) diameter flowers that appear on the previous year's wood in spring, in May-June, and then again on the current year's shoots, in September. The flowers are solitary or grouped in clusters and abundant. They are erect and have a wide corolla of slightly undulate tepals, tinted with red-pink in the centre. The spring flowers have a very double heart composed of numerous small soft pink tepals randomly streaked with raspberry pink. They somewhat resemble the pompoms of the 'Vyvyan Pennell' clematis, in a pink range. The flowering is followed by decorative feathery silver-grey fruits that persist until winter. The deciduous leaves are divided into small round leaflets, glabrous, of a medium green colour. This clematis clings to supports or host plants through petioles transformed into tendrils.

Plant your clematis alongside your climbing roses or vines to extend the flowering of your walls and pergolas until the end of summer. This genus is rich in diversity, with clematis in all colours, shapes, and sizes. Take advantage of their easy cultivation to give your garden a romantic and bohemian touch. 'Patricia Ann Fretwell', which loves to climb in bushes, pairs well with the white or pink flowers of lilacs, deutzias, or Kolkwitzia amabilis 'Pink Cloud'. It is interesting for providing a "second flowering" to Japanese quinces, Forsythias, and Abeliophyllum, which are a bit dull from April to October. Its pink flowers are highlighted by autumn foliage and look absolutely stunning against the large scarlet to garnet leaves of the red vine. It performs very well in a large pot. Create unusual spring bouquets by picking a few branches loaded with flowers, mixed with pink or purple peonies, double tulips 'Angelique' or 'Maureen', red, mauve or pink irises, and many other flowers from the garden.