Clematis viticella Queen Mother

Clematis Queen Mother is an adorable Italian clematis that boasts an abundance of purple-crimson bell-shaped flowers edged with pink. They bloom from summer to October. Its modest growth and light vegetation are two additional assets for ornamenting patios and small spaces. Its ease of cultivation, in a wide range of soils and climates, will delight all gardeners.

Clematis belong to the Ranunculaceae family. They can be found in Europe, the Himalayas, China, Australia, and North and Central America. The variety Queen Mother ('Zoqum') was obtained in 2011 in Germany by William Straver. It is probably descended from Clematis viticella, native to southern Europe and known for its natural resistance to clematis wilt. Some specialists see in the shape of its flowers and its fairly late flowering characteristics that link it to the group of Texensis clematis. It is a perfectly perennial, semi-woody and climbing herbaceous plant that will reach a height of about 2m (7ft), with a minimum spread of 1m (3ft). This clematis bears pendulous flowers, which can reach 4cm (in) in length. From July to early autumn, they appear in successive waves on the current year's shoots. The flowers are borne on long purplish peduncles. They have 4 petals fused at the base, with a recurved margin. Their colour is intermediate between purple and violet, with a broad border of lighter pink. The glabrous leaves are divided into 3 small elliptical to lanceolate leaflets, of an olive-green colour. The foliage dries up in winter. This clematis clings to support or host plants through petioles transformed into tendrils.

Plant your clematis alongside climbing roses or climbers ('New Dawn', 'Pomponella', 'Bouquet Parfait'), to extend the flowering period of walls and pergolas until the end of summer. It is a diverse genus, with clematis of all colours, shapes, and sizes. Take advantage of their ease of cultivation to give your garden a romantic and bohemian touch. Queen Mother will pair well with the pink flowers of C. 'Patricia Ann Fretwell' or C. 'Little Mermaid', for example, which are small climbers with the same stature. They will look wonderful climbing a fence or covering a wall exposed to morning sun. Let it climb a bush with purple foliage (Black Lace Elder, Midnight Ninebark): the colour combination is magnificent!

Tips: Avoid excessive use of fertilisers that stimulate foliage growth at the expense of flowers. Do not mulch in order to avoid excessive moisture.