Clematis patens 'Rebecca'

The 'Rebecca' Clematis or Evipo016 is a recent British variety that horticulture professionals consider the best of large red-flowered clematis. Its flowers, wider than a hand, open into a splendid star of a rare red, velvety and vibrant, almost psychedelic under the sun. A bouquet of cream-yellow stamens at the star's centre sits nicely tinged with red, making this variety unique. This variety is also remarkably generous: it blooms early, for a long time, and with such abandon throughout the entire beautiful season that its foliage almost disappears under a brilliant coat. With its modest growth, this little bushy climber is ready to make its entrance in all gardens, as well as on terraces and balconies, planted in a large pot.

Clematis belong to the Ranunculaceae family. They are found notably in Europe, the Himalayas, China, Australia, and North and Central America. The 'Rebecca' variety, obtained in 2007 in England, is a perfectly perennial, semi-woody climbing plant that will reach a height of approximately 2.50 m (8f), with a spread of at least 1 m (3ft). This clematis bears large open flowers, which can reach 12 to 18 cm (5 to 7in) in diameter and appear in successive waves on the new shoots in successive waves from May to June until the end of summer. The flowers are solitary and have eight undulate tepals, a crimson colour or with a more pink reverse, slightly overlapping each other. The centre of the flower is adorned with a beautiful crown of red-tinted stamens with a cream base and purple flowers. The flowering is followed by decorative silver-grey feathery fruits that persist until winter. The glabrous leaves are divided into three elliptical to lanceolate leaflets, dark colour. This clematis firmly attaches itself to the support or host plant through petioles transformed into tendrils.

Plant your clematis alongside your climbing or rambling roses ('New Dawn', 'Mme Caroline Testout', 'Zéphirine Drouhi') to extend the flowering of your walls and pergolas until the end of summer. It is a diverse genus with flowers of all colours, shapes, and sizes. Their easy cultivation give your garden a romantic and bohemian touch. 'Rebecca' will pair well with the blue flowers of the 'Hudson River' clematis, the purple flowers of Romantika, or the white flowers of varieties like 'Superba' or 'Miss Bateman', for example, to climb a fence or cover a wall exposed to the morning sun.

Tips: Avoid excessive fertilisers that stimulate foliage growth at the expense of flowers. Do not mulch to avoid excessive moisture.