Clematis Pink Mink - Viticella clematis

Clematis 'Pink Mink' ('Krakowiak') is a hybrid of the Italian clematis, or Clematis viticella, from which it inherits hardiness and long summer flowering. Its delicate-looking flowers are small open pink bells striped with dark pink. Charmingly curved back, the petals reveal a bright green-white heart that catches the light. Its very numerous flowers and compound foliage quickly form a graceful mass. This climbing plant is hardy and easy to grow, requiring only pruning at the end of winter. Not very bulky, it will dress up an unsightly fence, a somewhat dull shrub, or even a balustrade on a balcony.

Clematis belong to the Ranunculaceae family. The cultivar 'Krakowiak' is a Polish variety, selected by Szczepan Marczynski, marketed from 2011. It is distinguished from other cultivars by its pink flowers. Its female parent is an unnamed Clematis viticella; the male parent is not identified. This variety received a gold medal at the Polish plant novelties competition 2011, as well as a silver medal at the Flowers 2011 exhibition in Moscow. It descends from Clematis viticella, native to southern Europe, renowned for its natural resistance to clematis wilt. It is a perennial, semi-woody, climbing herbaceous plant, which will reach an average height of 3m, with a spread of 1m. This clematis bears open, 5 to 8cm diameter flowers on the current year's shoots from June until the end of summer, in successive waves. The flowers are solitary or grouped in small clusters. When they appear, they open into stars, revealing 4 delicately crinkled tepals, deep pink with darker, reddish pink midlines. It is the light centre of the flower that gives it its charm: its long, bristly white-green stamens intensify the contrast between the light pink and dark pink of its tepals. The leaves are divided into 3 elliptical to lanceolate, olive green leaflets. The foliage dries and dies in winter. This clematis attaches itself to the support or host plant via petioles transformed into tendrils.  

Plant your clematis with your climbing roses to keep your walls and pergolas in flower until the end of summer. It is a diverse genus with all colours, shapes and sizes. Take advantage of their ease of cultivation to give your garden a little romantic and bohemian feel. 'Pink Mink' pairs well with Clematis viticella 'White Prince Charles', bluish and light, which is pruned in the same way. Rose 'Perennial Blue' will offer small purple-crimson clusters on an arch or fence. At their base, Physocarpus opulifolius Little Devil™ will spread its beautiful dark foliage, while Geranium 'Orion' will form a carpet of blue-violet flowers for a good part of the summer.

Tips: avoid excess fertiliser, which stimulates foliage at the expense of flowers.