Clematis Gipsy Queen

Clematis 'Gipsy Queen' is a remarkable variety known for its vigour and late flowering. This climbing perennial develops fine voluble stems that can reach up to 3m (10ft) long and wrap themselves around any support. It bears charming bright green foliage, divided into ovate and pointed leaflets. It blooms abundantly from July to September, with star-shaped flowers that open in intense red before turning deep violet, marked with dark red medians and anthers. Use this variety to enhance a brick wall and bring out the depth of its flower colours. Perfectly hardy, this queen of climbers requires well-drained, rich soil that stays moist in summer. It is happy in full sun or partial shade. It does not tolerate stagnant moisture in heavy soils during winter.

The genus Clematis belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. Clematis 'Gipsy Queen' is an old English horticultural variety, obtained in 1877 by Cripps & Son. It has received the RHS Award Of Garden Merit.

It is a woody climbing perennial with short stems that will not exceed 3m (10ft) in height and has a spread of 1.5m (5ft). The deciduous leaves fall in winter. They are bright green and composed of 3 ovate to lanceolate leaflets, measuring 3 to 7cm (1 to 3in) long and 1.5 to 5cm (1 to 2in) wide, with relatively prominent veins. The rounded, single flowers are composed of a minimum of 6 oblong, oval to rounded, overlapping and pointed tepals. They can reach a width of 12 to 14cm (5 to 6in) in diameter. The plant produces semi-double flowers in spring and single flowers in late summer, in a vibrant shade of red before turning deep purple. The stamens are dark red. The colour of the flowers tends to fade at full bloom, especially when the plant is grown in a very sunny location. This clematis clings to its support or host plant using voluble stems with petioles transformed into tendrils.

Plant your clematis alongside climbing roses to extend the flowering period on walls and pergolas until the end of summer. This is a diverse genus, with flowers in all colours, shapes, and sizes. Take advantage of their easy cultivation to give your garden a romantic and bohemian touch. To protect the base of the plant from excessive heat and drying out, plant your clematis in the shade of a ground cover perennial or a bush. Thanks to its medium to small size, 'Gipsy Queen' will easily find a place in a small garden and will thrive in a pot on a balcony or next to a door, embracing a small bamboo structure to welcome visitors with its colourful flowers. It is a good companion for climbing roses, especially those with white, pink, or apricot flowers, blooming at a different time and in complementary dark tones.