Clematis Romantika

The 'Romantika' Clematis surprises with the very dark shade of its large velvety flowers and seduces with its good resistance to wilt disease. From June to September, flowers with 4 to 6 very dark purple petals bloom on this vine, gradually turning black and purple over the course of the day. The centre of the flower, occupied by beautiful yellow stamens, further enhances the dark colour of the flower. This unusual variety will be stunning in a bush with yellow foliage or next to silver foliage.

Clematis belong to the family of Ranunculaceae. They are found in both hemispheres, notably in Europe, the Himalayas, China, Australia, and North and Central America. The 'Romantika' variety, introduced in Estonia in 1983, is a vigorous, resistant, perfectly perennial and hardy, woody and climbing plant that will quickly reach a height of 3 to 4m (10 to 13ft), with a minimum spread of 1m (3ft).

This clematis bears star-shaped flowers with a diameter of 8 to 10cm (3 to 4in), appearing on the shoots of the current year from June to September. The flowers are solitary or grouped in clusters and particularly abundant. They are erect and have 4 to 6 thick and velvety petals, a solid colour, a very dark purple-red at blooming, which becomes more violet, almost black, over the course of the day. The flowering is followed by decorative feathery grey-silver fruits that persist until winter. The leaves, of modest size, pinnate, with ovate leaflets, glabrous, are of the viticella type, of a medium green. This clematis clings to the support or host plant through petioles transformed into tendrils.

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 are also good companions, their light and often fragrant flowers complementing perfectly the large scentless star-shaped corollas. The Clematis genus 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. 'Romantika' loves to weave itself into bushes and performs very well in a large pot.