Clematis 'Ruby' produces elegant, spidery lilac-mauve flowers in a much-needed spring flush from March to April. The fluffy seedheads of this alpina variety of Clematis are just as magnificent and help to add further interest to your garden as they persist throughout the summer. This versatile, climbing Old Man's Beard variety is extremely adaptable, growing strongly in sun or shade and requiring very little pruning. This hardy shrub looks superb climbing up a pergola, against a wall or fence or on a trellis or garden obelisk. Height: 2m (6' 6). Spread: 1m (3' 3). Pruning group: 1.
Clematis 'Apollonia' is a great addition to containers, grown against a trellis, for its white blooms look lovely alongside other Old Man's Beards as well as colourful Jasmines and Roses. This hardy shrub has a particularly compact habit, making it easy to maintain when placed in sunlight or semi-shade. It could also be grown up a fence or a low wall, making for a traditional yet versatile cottage garden plant. Height: 2m (6'7). Spread: 1m (3'3). Pruning group 2.
In June, July, August and September, this Old Man's Beard's bright purple and red flowers will catch your eye as soon as you step into your cottage garden. Clematis 'Ashva' is a climbing plant that thrives in the sunlight, so is best grown up a south facing wall, fence or trellis. Once its blooms die off, the hardy shrub can be pruned ready to begin its next colourful season the following spring. Height: 2m (6'7). Spread: 1m (3'3). Pruning group 3.
Clematis 'Blue Ravine' blooms in late spring/early summer, bearing huge 20cm lavender blue flowers with contrasting purple/red anthers, then again in late summer with slightly smaller flowers. This stunning compact climber will make the biggest impact in your garden from a partially shaded position, as bright sunlight tends to fade the vivid petals. This Old Man's Beard variety is the perfect choice for containers, pergolas, trellises and even peering through garden shrubs. Height: 2.5m (8'). Spread: 1m (3'). Pruning group: 2.
This variety of Old Man's Beard produces flowers notable for their size. In June and July, Clematis 'Destiny' displays large, pure white blooms with contrasting purple anthers. You can then enjoy a second flush of these flowers in the late summer, which makes the hardy shrub a valuable source of long-lasting interest in any sunny cottage garden. Height: 1.5m (4'11). Spread: 1m (3'). Pruning group 2.
Clematis x durandii differs from most clematis in that it is not a climbing variety, so it is the perfect choice for garden borders. It can also still be trained up trellis or obelisks using ties, making it truly versatile. The stunning indigo blue flowers feature 6 to 8 narrow, twisting sepals as well as golden yellow anthers in the centre, adding an excellent contrast to other plants in your border. Clematis x durandii is straightforward to grow, blooming between June and September and has been awarded an Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society. Height: 2m (6'). Spread: 1m (3'). Pruning group: 3.
Clematis 'Mikelite', which features deep mauve/purple blooms with a subtle dark stripe through each petal and creamy white anthers, looks outstanding when grown against dark green or even yellow shades. This hardy perennial climber is a modern viticella hybrid strain that is very easy to grow and maintain, flowering between July and September. It is perfectly suited to growing in pots and containers and can also be trained up a trellis or against a pergola; it is even happy to scramble through your other garden plants in the border. For an exceptional colour display, we recommend growing Clematis 'Mikelite' with a yellow-flowering Clematis or a climbing pink rose. Height: 2.5m (8' 2). Spread: 1m (3' 3). Pruning group: 3.
Clematis 'Mayleen' is a superb variety of the ever-popular montana Clematis, with an RHS AGM. A quick-growing climber, ?Mayleen? rapidly covers walls and trellis, even in trickier north-facing positions. Its stems are covered in delicate satin pink blooms from mid-spring, held against a stunning backdrop of bronze foliage. Easy to grow, and requiring almost no pruning. Height: 10m (32?). Spread: 3m (10?). Pruning group: 1.
Clematis 'Mrs Cholmondeley' bears gorgeous wide flowers that can reach up to 20cm (8) across if grow in optimum conditions. Each flower is a stunning soft lavender blue colour, with prominent darker veins and chocolate brown anthers. This variety blooms throughout early summer, adding a much needed splash of colour to your garden. Winner of an RHS AGM, this free flowering variety performs best in light shade where its flowers will be protected from the fading caused by full sun. Height: 3m (10'). Spread: 1m (3'). Pruning group: 2.
Clematis 'Remembrance' features raspberry pink flowers that mature to a very deep shade of pink, with a contrasting central boss of pale yellow stamens and heavily-textured sepals that give a glossy shine. This compact, late-flowering Clematis blooms consistently from July to September, adding a splash of colour to your garden. The only maintenance this Old Man's Beard variety requires is the cutting back of the stems almost to the ground each year. Clematis 'Remembrance' looks superb when planted into a large pot and trained up a trellis, or in the ground climbing a free-standing obelisk. Height: 2.5m (8'). Spread: 1m (3'). Pruning group: 3.
During early summer Clematis 'Richard Pennell' will clothe walls, trellises and fences with an abundance of blue-purple blooms which can be up to 13cm (5) across. Later in the season, in September, when other plants are coming to the end of their 'time in the sun' Clematis 'Richard Pennell' will be back with another display demonstrating why this popular variety is a worthy holder of an RHS AGM for exceptional garden performance. Height: 3m (10'). Spread: 1m (3') Pruning group: 2.