Clematis patens Ramona

The 'Ramona' Clematis is an old, floriferous variety with large lavender-blue corollas that contrast pleasantly with purple and white stamens. It first blooms in late spring, then again in late summer, on climbing stems that cling to the support provided to them.

Clematis belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. They are found in both hemispheres, notably in Europe, the Himalayas, China, Australia, and North and Central America. The 'Ramona' variety, introduced in the Netherlands in 1874, is a perfectly perennial and hardy, woody and climbing plant that will quickly reach a height of 2.50m (8ft) to 3m (10ft), with a minimum spread of 1m (3ft).

This clematis bears single flowers measuring 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8in) in diameter, which first appear on the previous year's stems in May-June, and then on the current year's shoots in September. The flowers are solitary or grouped in cymes and particularly abundant. They are upright and have 6 to 8 broadly ovate, overlapping tepals at the base. Their colour is a blue tending towards mauve. In the centre, a bouquet of bicoloured stamens, dark purple with an almost white base, unfolds. The flowering is followed by decorative silvery grey feathery fruits that persist until winter. This clematis clings to the support or host plant through petioles transformed into tendrils. Its deciduous foliage is absent in winter.

Clematis like to have their feet in the shade and their heads in the sun. Plant your clematis alongside your climbing roses or vines to extend the flowering of your walls and pergolas until the end of summer. Climbing honeysuckles will also be good companions, with their light and often fragrant flowers complementing the large, star-shaped, scentless corollas. The genus Clematis is rich in diversity, with varieties available in all colours, shapes, and sizes. Take advantage of their easy cultivation to give your garden a romantic and bohemian touch. 'Ramona' loves to weave itself into bushes and performs well in a large pot. This variety will look stunning alongside a yellow rose or an orange trumpet creeper.