Clematis x viticella Wonderful

Clematis 'Wonderful' is a beautiful Dutch novelty that is perfectly hardy, exceptionally floriferous, and disease-resistant. With a medium size, it fits easily in a small garden or in a large pot on a patio. From June to October, this lively plant produces purple buds that open into large, star-shaped flowers with 4 branches, in a warm and brilliant pink-red colour, enhanced with cream stamens at the centre. This strong climber should be planted in full sun or partial shade, in a romantic or English-style garden.

Clematis belong to the Ranunculaceae family. They can be found in both hemispheres, especially in Europe, the Himalayas, China, Australia, and North and Central America. The 'Wonderful' variety, obtained in the Netherlands in 2006 and introduced to the market in 2016, is a perfectly perennial and hardy semi-woody climbing plant, which will reach a height of about 3m (10ft), with a minimum spread of 1.5m (5ft). It possesses the genes of Clematis viticella, a botanical species that is particularly resistant to diseases and dry soils.

The star-shaped flowers with six petals, measuring 5 to 7cm (2 to 3in) in diameter, appear on the current year's shoots. They bloom without interruption from late spring to the end of summer, or even until autumn. The flowers are solitary or grouped in clusters and are particularly abundant. They are slightly trailing and have 4 large, narrow petals, in a deep pink colour, with a redder central zone. The centre of the flower is adorned with a creamy-yellow stamen heart surrounding a feathery purple pistil. The flowering is followed by a few decorative silvery-grey feathery fruits that persist until winter. The deciduous and pinnate leaves, with acute-pointed leaflets, are a fairly dark green. This clematis clings to the support or host plant through petioles transformed into tendrils.

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