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Clematis Krakowiak

Clematis x viticella Krakowiak®
Italian Leather Flower, Purple Clematis, Virgin's Bower

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This variety of Clematis is appreciated for its long summer flowering, with deep pink flowers enhanced by very dark pink, almost reddish, centres and a very bright white-green stamen crown. This is an exceptionally robust and easy-to-grow climbing perennial, perfect for beginners. Its twisting stems quickly cover supports with charming tender green compound foliage that can reach up to 3 m (10ft). It is an excellent climber for effectively covering fences, hedges or a trellis on a balcony, quickly creating an impressive cascade of ovate leaflets and colourful delicate flowers. It blooms in open bells with delicately crinkled slender petals, typical of the species. They are small but abundant, from June to September. This hardy climber needs well-drained, rich and moist soil and a bright location.
Flower size
7 cm
Height at maturity
3 m
Spread at maturity
1 m
Exposure
Sun, Partial shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -18°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil
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Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time March to May, September to November
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Flowering time June to September
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Description

Clematis 'Krakowiak', is a hybrid of Clematis viticella, from which it inherited its robustness and long summer flowering. Its delicate-looking flowers appear from June in small open bells of deep pink with crumpled petals and darker pink centres. The petals are beautifully curved backwards to reveal a bright green-white centre that catches the light. Its numerous flowers and compound foliage develop quickly into a generous, delicate, light and vibrant-coloured mass. This climbing perennial is very robust and easy to grow, requiring well-drained, moist and rich soil with its head in the sun and severe pruning before its spring regrowth. Its compact size and fast-growing tendrils make it ideal for covering an unsightly fence, a plain shrub, or even a balcony railing in a pot.

 

Clematis belong to the Ranunculaceae family. They can be found in Europe, the Himalayas, China, Australia, and North and Central America. 'Krakowiak' is a Polish variety selected by Szczepan Marczynski and marketed since 2011. It has received several awards and stands out from other cultivars with its pink flowers. It descends from Clematis viticella, native to southern Europe, known for its natural resistance to clematis wilt. This herbaceous plant is a perennial, semi-woody climber, reaching an average height of 3m (10ft), with a spread of 1m (3ft). This clematis bears well-opened flowers up to 5 to 8cm (2 to 3in) in diameter, which appear on the current year's shoots in successive waves from June to the end of summer. The flowers are solitary or grouped in small clusters and they open into stars, revealing 4 delicately fringed, deep pink petals with reddish-pink middles. It is the light centre of the flower that gives it charm as the long, white-green stamens intensify the contrast between the light pink and dark pink of its petals. The smooth leaves are divided into 3 elliptical to lanceolate, olive green leaflets. The foliage dries up and dies in winter. This clematis clings to its support or host plant through petioles transformed into tendrils.

  

Plant clematis alongside your climbing roses ('New Dawn', 'Pomponella', 'Bouquet Parfait'), to extend the flowering of your walls and pergolas until the end of summer. This 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. 'Krakowiak' will pair well with the white flowers with purple-red stamens of 'Miss Bateman', for example, a small climber with a similar stature, to climb a fence or cover a wall exposed to the morning sun.

Tips: Avoid excessive fertiliser applications that stimulate foliage growth at the expense of flowers. Do not mulch, to avoid excessive moisture.

Clematis Krakowiak in pictures

Clematis Krakowiak (Flowering) Flowering
Clematis Krakowiak (Plant habit) Plant habit

Plant habit

Height at maturity 3 m
Spread at maturity 1 m
Growth rate fast

Flowering

Flower colour pink
Flowering time June to September
Inflorescence Solitary
Flower size 7 cm

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour green

Botanical data

Genus

Clematis

Species

x viticella

Cultivar

Krakowiak®

Family

Ranunculaceae

Other common names

Italian Leather Flower, Purple Clematis, Virgin's Bower

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference8785031

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Planting and care

clematis 'Krakowiak' prefers non-scorching, but sunny and bright situations. It even flowers in bright shade, especially in very sunny regions. Plant it in fertile, well-drained soil, enriched with compost, shading the roots and the base of the stem (with a flat tile for example). Clematis can be susceptible to wilt in too wet soil, but varieties with the genes of C.viticella seem more resistant to this terrible disease.

They also tolerate heat and relatively dry soils in summer better. Plant it, with the rootball at an angle, covering it with 3 cm (1in) of soil, in well-worked soil, lightened with good compost and coarse sand. After planting, cut back the stems to about 30 cm (12in) from the base above a healthy pair of buds. Water regularly during the first few weeks, but be careful not to let the water stagnate as this can cause fungus to develop at the neck. Mulch all clematis in February with garden compost or well-rotted manure, avoiding direct contact with the stems. Train the stems, without squeezing them, until the plant grips itself.

Clematis also like to grow freely on neighbouring plants. After a few years, cover the base of your climbing clematis with a small mound of soil, this reduces the risk of clematis wilt while promoting the growth of vigorous new shoots from the crown. Voles and caterpillars can attack clematis and devour the stems. Aphids and greenhouse whiteflies are also potential pests.

 

Planting period

Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time March to May, September to November
Type of support Arch, Trellis

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Woodland edge
Type of use Container, Climbing
Hardiness Hardy down to -18°C (USDA zone 7a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 1 per m2
Exposure Sun, Partial shade
Soil pH Any
Soil moisture Moist soil, fertile, deep and well-drained

Care

Pruning instructions Prune the stems to 30cm (12in) from the soil in late winter (March), before the start of growth, as this variety blooms on the current year's shoots.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time March
Soil moisture Moist soil
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground

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