Clematis Trikatrei - Clématite hybride à grandes fleurs Trikatrei

The clematis ‘Trikatrei’ is above all captivating for the particularly dark colour of its large flowers, a deep purplish violet that appears almost black when opening, especially in soft light. Slightly less vigorous than some older large-flowered clematis, it is well suited to small gardens and growing in a large container. Its summer flowering appears on the current year’s shoots, allowing it to be pruned short each winter. This Estonian creation, rarely planted in gardens, will also appeal to clematis enthusiasts seeking an unusual colour.

The genus Clematis belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. 'Trikatrei’ is a variety bred by Uno Kivistik at Roogoja Farm in Estonia, then introduced in 1984. This breeder was particularly seeking clematis capable of flowering abundantly on new shoots and withstanding the harsh winters of northern Europe. Each spring, the plant develops long, flexible stems that gradually become lignified over the season. They do not twine directly around their support; instead, the leaf petioles cling to it. A fine-mesh trellis, metal wires, or thin twigs therefore allow them to attach easily. The vegetation typically reaches 2 to 2.50 m in height with a spread of about 1 m. The deciduous leaves are formed of several oval leaflets in a medium to dark green. From June to September, numerous open flowers appear, measuring 8 to 10 cm across. They usually have six fairly broad tepals, slightly undulate or puckered, whose surface subtly catches the light. Their hue, a very deep purplish violet, may lighten somewhat over time or under intense sun. The pale centre, occupied by cream stamens, stands out clearly against this dark corolla. This variety flowers on stems produced in spring and can be pruned close to the ground each year. Very hardy, it withstands temperatures close to –29 °C in well-drained soil.

This variety ‘Trikatrei’ will dress a trellis, a wire mesh fence, or the airy branches of a shrub with golden foliage such as Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Dart’s Gold’. Its moderate growth also allows it to be grown in a large container fitted with a fine, sturdy support. Its very dark colour contrasts with the small white roses of the climbing rose ‘Snow Goose’, the pearly white flowers with mauve-blue reverses of the clematis ‘Huldine’, and the pure white of the meadow cranesbill ‘Laura’ which will shade its base. These plants, like it, enjoy sun or partial shade and fertile, moist but well-drained soil. As ‘Huldine’ also flowers on the current year’s shoots, both clematis can be pruned simultaneously at the end of winter.