Clematis Paradiso

Clematis 'Paradiso' was selected at Plantarium 2016 for its generous spring flowering, but also for the unusual colour of its large star-shaped flowers. Each flower is composed of petals whose size and number vary depending on the season, but they always display this lovely violet colour, made even brighter by the presence of a purple border. The September flowering is more modest but still useful to accompany the first autumn flowers. This moderately sized, light clematis will work well in a large pot on the terrace, among the border plants or even trained on a small fence.

Clematis belong to the Ranunculaceae family. The 'Paradiso' variety is a perennial, hardy, semi-woody climbing plant, which will reach about 2 metres (7 feet) high, with a minimum spread of 80 cm (32in). It has the genes of C. patens, a Japanese species with large flowers of varying colours, which is the origin of many cultivars. 'Paradiso', recently obtained in the Netherlands, bears star-shaped flowers with eight variable-sized petals, sometimes fully double in June. They measure from 8 to 12 cm (3 to 5in) in diameter and appear on last year's wood in May-June then again more sporadically on the current year's shoots, at the end of summer, in two distinct waves. The upright flowers have a cluster of red stamens with yellow anthers in their centre. The flowers are followed by decorative feathery silver-grey seed heads that persist until winter. The deciduous leaves are composed of lanceolate leaflets that change from medium green to dark green in summer. This Clematis attaches itself to a support or host plant through petioles transformed into tendrils.

Plant Clematis alongside your climbing roses or ramblers to extend the flowering of your walls and pergolas until the end of summer. Plant pretty perennials like geraniums, carnations, sage nemorosa, phlox at their base, which will provide the shade it likes. It is a diverse genus with varieties in all colours, shapes, and sizes. Take advantage of their easy cultivation to give your garden a romantic and bohemian touch. 'Paradiso' loves to weave itself into bushes and performs very well in a large pot.