Clematis Three Sisters tricolour mix - Rouge Cardinal, The Vagabond and Snow Queen.

Clematis Three Sisters tricolour is a collection of three varieties of clematis in the same pot, each offering a different flower colour. 'Rouge Cardinal' is a French creation, opening with a dark red colour that gradually lightens. 'The Vagabond' comes from England and produces large, very intense purple flowers. 'Snow Queen' originates from New Zealand and blooms with beautiful white stars, creating a magnificent contrast with its two sisters. They are compact varieties, reaching a height of 2m or 2.50m and provide flowers from May to September, or even October. The collection is ideal on a sunny balcony or terrace and does not need to be sheltered for winter, as all three are very hardy.

Clematis belongs to the family of Ranunculaceae, like columbines or anemones. They are found in Europe, the Himalayas, China, Australia and North and Central America. The genus includes more than 200 species, mostly climbing plants, compact or capable of reaching up to 8m in height in trees like Clematis montana, but also some non-climbing herbaceous plants, such as Clematis heracleifolia.
The most difficult thing is often to choose between the beautiful blooms available, Three Sisters will delight you with 3 superb varieties in different and complementary colours. The variety 'Rouge Cardinal', obtained in 1968, has 'Ville de Lyon' and 'Pourpre Mat' as its parents. From this crossbreeding comes a superb variety with dark red flowers measuring 10 to 12cm in diameter, enhanced by a beautiful crown of cream stamens with purple anthers. Flowering begins in June, with fairly dark red flowers reminiscent of precious velvet, and ends in September-October with flowers that gradually lighten. The flowering is followed by decorative silvery grey feathery seed heads that persist until winter. The smooth leaves are divided into 3 elliptical to lanceolate, dark green leaflets. This relatively compact clematis can reach a height of 2.50m, up to a maximum of 3m if left unrestricted.
The second plant in this composition, 'The Vagabond', was created in 1984 in England from a cross between the first one, 'Rouge Cardinal', and an unknown variety. It is more compact and does not exceed 2m in free form, which it compensates for with the size of its flowers: up to 18cm in diameter! Blooming from May to August in large stars, they display an intense purple colour with a central band of purple-violet to beautiful effect. The cream-yellow stamen centre is quite large and contrasts nicely with the petals. Its deciduous, oval, lanceolate, green, 10cm long leaves, are carried by twining stems that coil around their support using tendrils.
'Snow Queen', the third "sister", comes from far away, as it is a seedling of Clematis patens selected in 1958 by a New Zealand breeder. It produces a superb star-shaped flowering in May-June, sometimes reblooming in September. The large flowers, which can reach 16cm in diameter, are pure white, or occasionally subtly tinged with pink, with purple anthers in the stamen centre. With a vigour comparable to 'Rouge Cardinal', it reaches a width of 1.50m if left unrestricted, just like its sister. Its deciduous foliage consists of three-lobed, fairly dark green leaves.
These three sisters are very hardy (around -25°C) and appreciate the sun, provided that their base is protected. A moist humus-rich soil is suitable for them, without excessive moisture, and this original composition will flower throughout summer. A balcony or terrace is enough to enjoy their abundance.

Three Sisters is a beautiful combination of generous climbers that will enhance your terrace beautifully. If you have a conservatory, you can extend the flowering period by obtaining a Hardenbergia violacea in a pot, which will reward you with an abundance of small mauve-purple flowers from February to June, beautifully highlighted by its dark green evergreen foliage. If you want to plant your composition in the ground, you can create beautiful combinations with climbing roses if you have a fence to cover or a pergola to dress. Another idea is to let your clematis climb on shrubs or small trees. Their vegetation is light enough not to harm their living support and it will add a subtle touch to your plant decor.