Clematis aromatica

150-277D4 Clematis aromatica
Joy Creek Photo Archive (c) all rights reserved	There is some question as to the exact parentage of this non-clinging clematis. It is thought to be a cross between C. integrifolia and C. recta or C. flammula. What is true is that this delightful plant forms an erect subshrub with 2-inch flowers in loose terminal clusters. In our garden, after many years, it has only reached 3 ft. in height and we tie it loosely to a wire support. The flowers of Clematis aromatica open rich violet and then fade to blue violet. The sepals tend to curl down along their margins (in the same way a tongue curls only downward) and this tends to emphasize the boss of cream filaments with cream yellow anther tips. Some say the flowers smell like hawthorne. We just say they smell sweet. Summer to autumn. 4-6 ft. Red-Purple flowers *Sun Zones 5, 6, 7, 8*
This summer bloomer has it main crop on the current year's growth. Prune this back hard at the end of winter to encourage new growth.