The Atragene Group

A word of explanation - because there are over 250 species of clematis found around the world
(and because some of us are overwhelmed by that abundance!), a number of similar species
are grouped together in...well...groups, to make them easier to classify and understand.

The Atragene Group is made up of over a dozen species, but only a few are seen in cultivation.
C. alpina, C. macropetala and C. koreana are all members of the atragene group found in US gardens.

They have several characteristics in common:

• They all bloom very early, usually with the lilacs. Some may rebloom a little in late summer
  and few rare treasures bloom continuously all summer.
• They all have bell shaped, nodding flowers, followed by handsome seed heads
  that some gardeners think are as attractive as the flowers.
• All atragenes are very winter hardy and extremely disease resistant.
• They all bloom on wood that grew last year, so they should not be pruned;
  after flowering, dead wood can be removed and the plant can be shaped and trimmed, if desired.

Flower	Variety	Type	Height	Bloom Time	Pruning Group	Hardiness Zone
	Betina A.K.A. Red Beetroot Beauty SOLD OUT!	alpine	10 to 12 ft.	spring and summer	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Brunette SOLD OUT!	koreana	8 to 10 ft.	spring and summer	Don't Bother!	Zone 3
	Burford A.K.A. Burford White	alpine	6 to 8 ft.	spring	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Constance SOLD OUT!	macropetala	6 to 12 ft.	spring	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Frances Rivis	alpine	6 to 8 feet ft.	spring	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Helsingborg	alpine	8 to 12 ft.	spring	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Jan Lindmark	macropetala	6 to 8 ft.	spring	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Pamela Jackman	alpine	8 to 12 ft.	spring	Don't Bother!	Zone 4

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The Early Large Flowered Hybrids

These are the plants that most people think of when we say, "Clematis".

They bloom in late May or early June and have large, flat flowers. Some will repeat bloom in late summer or early fall.
Many are prone to a fungal disease called clematis wilt. We do not sell the varieties we have found to be especially
susceptible to wilt. Often, wilt is a disease of young plants and they outgrow it as they mature. If a clematis wilts
repeatedly, we recommend "shovel pruning" it and replacing it with a disease resistant plant.

Most books and websites recommend treating early large flowered hybrids as "moderate prune" clematis
and cutting them by about 1/3 in March.

However, here in the Frozen North, we suggest letting Mother Nature do the pruning.
Our long, harsh winters will cause some winter kill on the top growth. We recommend
pruning out this winter kill after the leaves start to grow in the spring. The amount
of winter kill will, of course, depend on how cold the winter is; some winters,
early large flowered clematis may die back to the ground.

Flower	Variety	Type	Height	Bloom Time	Pruning Group	Hardiness Zone
	Anna Louise New in 2008!	early large flowered hybrid	6 to 8 ft.	late spring	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Asao	early large flowered hybrid	6 to 8 ft.	early summer and fall	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Baltyk SOLD OUT!	early large flowered hybrid	6 to 8 ft.	early summer and fall	Don't Bother!	Zone 3
	Bees' Jubilee New in 2008!	early large flowered hybrid	6 to 10 ft.	early summer and fall	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Bourbon New in 2008!	early large flowered hybrid	5 to 6 ft.	spring	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Claire de Lune a.k.a. Blue Moon New in 2008!	early large flowered hybrid	8 to 10 ft.	spring & fall	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Climador SOLD OUT!	early large flowered hybrid	6 to 8 ft.	summer and fall	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Daniel Deronda SOLD OUT!	early large flowered hybrid	6 to 10 ft.	early summer and fall	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Elsa Spath SOLD OUT!	early large flowered hybrid	8 to 12 ft.	early summer and fall	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Eyre's Gift	early large flowered hybrid	10 to 12 ft.	early summer and fall	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Guernsey Cream	early large flowered hybrid	8-10 ft.	early summer and fall	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	HF Young	early large flowered hybrid	8 to 12 ft.	early summer and fall	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Hyde Hall	early large flowered hybrid	6 to 8 ft.	early summer and fall	Don't Bother!	Zone 5
	Josephine	early large flowered hybrid	8-10 ft.	summer and fall	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Kilian Donahue SOLD OUT!	early large flowered hybrid	6 to 8 ft.	summer and fall	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Kiri te Kanawa	early large flowered hybrid	8 to 10 ft.	spring and fall	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Liberation SOLD OUT!	early large flowered hybrid	8 to 10 ft.	summer and fall	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Miss Bateman SOLD OUT!	early large flowered hybrid	6 to 8 ft.	early summer and fall	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Mrs. Cholmondeley	early large flowered hybrid	10 to 12 ft.	summer and fall	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Patricia Ann Fretwell New in 2008!	early large flowered hybrid	6 to 8 ft.	summer	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	President	early large flowered hybrid	8 to 10 ft.	summer	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Prince Philip SOLD OUT!	early large flowered hybrd	8 to 10 ft.	early summer and fall	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Proteus	early large flowered hybrid	8 to 10 ft.	early summer and fall	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Richard Pennell	early large flowered hybrid	8 to 10 ft.	early summer and fall	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Rosemoor SOLD OUT!	early large flowered hybrid	6 to 8 ft.	early summer and fall	Don't Bother!	Zone 5
	Royal Velvet SOLD OUT!	early large flowered hybrid	6 to 8 ft.	early summer and fall	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Ruby Glow	early large flowered hybrid	6 to 8 ft.	early summer and fall	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Silver Moon	early large flowered hybrid	8 to 10 ft.	early summer and fall	Don't Bother!	Zone 4
	Star Burst New in 2008!	early large flowered hybrid	6 to 8 ft.	spring	Don't Bother!	Zone 3

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The Late Flowering Hybrids

Although some of these clematis start to bloom in late June,
most of them will flower from July onwards. Depending on the
variety, they will bloom from three weeks to two months.

Plants in this group are "full prune", which means they
should be cut back to 12 to 18 inches tall in March.
They bloom on new wood - growth produced this year -
and hard pruning encourages lots more new growth.

Late flowering hybrids are very winter hardy and very disease
resistant. Wilt is very rare in these plants.

The flowers are flat, although they tend to be a little smaller than
the early flowered hybrids. They make up for the
difference in size by making lots of blooms!

Flower	Variety	Type	Height	Bloom Time	Pruning Group	Hardiness Zone
	Amanda Marie	late flowered hybrid	5 to 6 ft.	spring and summer	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Barbara Harrington	late flowered hybrid	6 to 8 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Blue Angel SOLD OUT!	late flowered hybrid	9 to 12 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Comtesse de Bouchaud SOLD OUT!	late flowered hybrid	6 to 8 ft.	mid summer	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Ernest Markham	late flowered hybrid	8 to 10 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Hagley Hybrid	late flowered hybrid	6 to 8 ft.	mid summer	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Jackmanii	late flowered hybrid	10 to 12 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 3
	John Huxtable SOLD OUT!	late flowered hybrid	6 to 8 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Lady Betty Balfour SOLD OUT!	late flowered hybrid	10 to 12 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Perle D'Azur SOLD OUT!	late flowered hyrbid	10 to 15 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Prince Charles	late flowered hybrid	6 to 8 ft.	mid summer to fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Radiance	late flowered hybrid	8 to 10 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Rhapsody	late flowered hybrid	8 to 10 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Victor Hugo SOLD OUT!	late flowered hybrid	8 to 10 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Victoria	late flowered hybrid	6 to 8 ft.	summer	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Ville de Lyon	late flowered hybrid	10 to 12 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Warsaw Nike a.k.a. Midnight Showers	early large flowered hybrid	6 to 8 ft.	early summer	Full Prune	Zone 4

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The Kivistik Collection

The Kivistik Collection consists of clematis bred by Uno and Aili Kivistik at Roogoja Farm in Estonia
between 1974 and Mr. Kivistik's death in 1998. Roogoja Farm is the northernmost breeding location for
clematis in the world and the Kivistik's goal was to breed super hardy clematis that bloom on new wood.
The Kivistik clematis are all quite short, rarely over 6 feet tall, and are bred to die back to the
ground each winter. Although we list these plants as "Full Prune",
most years all you will have to do is remove the dead stems at ground level.

For more information, see our Kivistik Clematis page.

Flower	Variety	Type	Height	Bloom Time	Pruning Group	Hardiness Zone
	Huvi	large flowered hybrid	6 to 8 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 3
	Juuli	integrifolia	3 to 4 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 3
	Miniseelik New in 2008!	large flowered hybrid	up to 6 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 3
	Minister	large flowered hybrid	up to 6 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 3
	Piilu	large flowered hybrid	4 to 6 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 3
	Reiman	large flowered hybrid	up to 6 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 3
	Romantika	large flowered hybrid	6 to 8 ft.	summer	Full Prune	Zone 3
	Ruutel	large flowered hybrid	up to 6 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 3
	Silmakavi	large flowered hrbrid	4 to 6 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 3
	Viola	large flowered hybrid	up to 6 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 3

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The Viticella Hybrids

The viticella species of clematis is native to southern Europe, especially the Mediterranean region.
Plants were first imported to England in the mid 1500’s and gardeners soon discovered the joys of
hybridizing with this terrific plant.

There are many, many clematis varieties that trace their parentage back to C. viticella
and most of them have several important characteristics in common:

• They are all fairly tall, usually between 8 and 12 feet.
• They produce huge quantities of relatively small flowers.
• Many are downward facing and at least a little bell shaped.
• They are extremely disease resistant and winter hardy.
• All should be ‘hard pruned’; cut back to 12 to 18 inches tall in March.

Flower	Variety	Type	Height	Bloom Time	Pruning Group	Hardiness Zone
	Alba Luxurians SOLD OUT!	viticella	6 to 10 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Betty Corning	viticella	6 to 10 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Blue Belle	viticella	10 to 12 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Carmencita	viticella	10 to 12 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Chatsworth	viticella	10 to 12 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Emilia Plater SOLD OUT!	viticella	8 to 10 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Etoile Violette	viticella	8 to 12 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Hanna	viticella	6 to 8 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Huldine	viticella	8 to 15 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Kermesina	viticella	10 to 12 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Madame Julia Correvon	viticella	8 to 10 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Margot Koster	viticella	8 to 10 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Minuet	viticella	10 to 12 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Perrin's Pride SOLD OUT!	viticella	8 to 10 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Polish Spirit	viticella	10 to 12 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Royal Velours SOLD OUT!	viticella	10 to 12 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Venosa Violacea a.k.a.Violet Star Gazer SOLD OUT!	viticella	6 to 8 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4

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The Texensis Hybrids

Yes, these plants are native to Texas. And, yes, they ARE winter hardy here, too!
We've even seen them growing in Newfoundland!
Flowers are upward facing, usually tulip-shaped
and quite small. Hard prune them in March.
Give them a light, even gravelly soil and full sun.
Wilt resistant, although some varieties may be prone to mildew.

Flower	Variety	Type	Height	Bloom Time	Pruning Group	Hardiness Zone
	Duchess of Albany	texensis	6 to 12 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Etoile Rose	texensis	8 to 10 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Gravetye Beauty	texensis	6 to 8 ft.	late summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Princess Diana	texensis	6 to 8 ft.	mid summer to fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Sir Trevor Lawrence	texensis	6 to 8 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4

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The Tangutica Group

Hailing from China, C. tangutica is characterized by small leaves and tiny yellow flowers.
These plants should be cut back to 12 to 18 inches tall in March.
Give them good drainage and lots of sun.

to

Flower	Variety	Type	Height	Bloom Time	Pruning Group	Hardiness Zone
	My Angel	tangutica	6 to 8 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Tangutica	species	12 to 15 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 3

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The Integrifolia Hybrids

Native to central and eastern Europe, C. integrifolia was also introduced to England in the mid 1500’s.
C. integrifolia and its hybrids are non-climbing clematis; they will sprawl unless provided with support.
Although some hybrids get quite large, most grow 3 to 4 feet tall.

Integrifolia hybrids usually have the downward facing bell shaped flowers of their parent, although there are
a few notable exceptions. Pink and purple are the most common colors. Many varieties are fragrant, especially
when planted in full sun.They are virtually wilt free, although they are sometimes prone to powdery mildew.

Flower	Variety	Type	Height	Bloom Time	Pruning Group	Hardiness Zone
	Alba	integrifolia	up to 3 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Alionushka	integrifolia	4 to 5 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Amelia	integrifolia	4 to 6 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Arabella	integrifolia	3 to 6 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Blue Boy	integrifolia	6 to 8 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Hanajima	integrifolia	up to 3 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Heather Herschel	integrifolia	4 to 6 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Integrifolia (This is the species itself!) SOLD OUT!	integrifolia	3 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 3
	Juuli	integrifolia	3 to 4 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 3
	Miranda	integrifolia	4 to 6 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Olgae SOLD OUT!	integrifolia	up to 3 ft.	summer	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Pamiat Serdtsa	integrifolia	5 to 6 ft.	summer	Full Prune	Zone 3
	Petit Faucon	integrifolia	4 to 5 ft.	summer	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Rooguchi	integrifolia	6 to 8 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Rosea	integrifolia	up to 3 ft.	summer & fall	Full Prune	Zone 3

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The Heracleifolia Group

Heracleifolias and related plants are also non-climbers, sprawling unless supported.
Their petite flowers are quite fragrant and their foliage is quite unusual.
Some of these hybrids seem to reseed rather prolifically in our sandy soil.
Mrs. Robert isn't technically a heracleifolia; see her individual page for details.

Flower	Variety	Type	Height	Bloom Time	Pruning Group	Hardiness Zone
	Mrs. Robert Brydon Back in '06!!	heracleifolia	4 to 6 ft.	late summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4

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Miscellaneous Species

Although these are a jumble of plants we couldn't fit elsewhere, they are all hard prune
and appreciate a well drained soil. Grow one or more of these rare beauties and you'll
really have a "Horse of a Different Color" in your garden!

Flower	Variety	Type	Height	Bloom Time	Pruning Group	Hardiness Zone
	Mandshurica	species	6 to 10 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 3
	Mongolian Gold SOLD OUT!	fruiticosa	3 to 4 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 4
	Paul Farges	vitalba	20 ft.	late summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 3
	Pitcheri	species	6 to 10 ft.	summer and fall	Full Prune	Zone 5
	Sweet Autumn SOLD OUT!	terniflora	up to 30 ft.	fall	Full Prune	Zone 5

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