Clematis Sunset

Clematis Sunset is a modestly sized variety that will charm with its floribundity and the vibrant red of its large flowers. These are large stars with wide petals, a bright red-pink with a darker red median, enhanced by a yellow stamen centre. It is modest-sized but very floriferous in May-June and again in September, perfect for small gardens and suitable for container cultivation. It will form a beautiful combination with Mme Lecoultre or Country Rose clematis with staggered flowering.

Clematis belongs to the ranunculaceae family. They are found in Europe, the Himalayas, China, Australia and North and Central America. The 'Sunset' variety, obtained in 1990 in the United States, is a perennial, hardy, semi-woody climbing plant that will reach 2 to 3 m (7 to 10ft) high, with a spread of about 1.50 m (5ft). Its solitary flowers appear in May-June, and again in September and measure 12 to 14 cm (5 to 6in) in diameter. Each one has 6 wide, slightly overlapping tepals, with barely wavy edges. The centre of the flower is adorned with a beautiful crown of yellow stamens. The flowers are followed by decorative silver-grey feathery seed heads that persist until winter. The smooth leaves are divided into 3 elliptical to lanceolate, medium olive-green leaflets. This clematis clings to its support or host plant through petioles transformed into tendrils. Its deciduous foliage disappears in winter.

Plant clematis alongside your climbing roses ('New Dawn', 'Mme Caroline Testout', 'Zéphirine Drouhin'), to extend the flowering of your walls and pergolas until the end of summer. It is a diverse genus with flowers of all colours, shapes, and sizes. Take advantage of their easy cultivation to give your garden a romantic and bohemian touch. 'Sunset' will blend well with the white flowers of small Clematis 'Superba' or 'Miss Bateman', or the blue flowers of Prince Charles, which have the same stature, to climb a fence or cover a wall exposed to the morning sun.