Using Atragene clematis in the garden

Shade-tolerant and early-flowering, these graceful climbers are a great choice for small gardens

The Atragene Group clematis are a charming bunch of colourful, not-too-vigorous climbers that enhance gardens in spring, sometimes also throwing out extra blooms as autumn arrives. These are not the large-flowered, showy, often temperamental summer bloomers that most people think of when you say Clematis, but demure plants with smaller, lantern-shaped flowers that festoon the vines with colour – often pink, blue, lavender or white. For the most part they’re deciduous climbers and are hardy in the British climate.

Of the almost 400 species of Clematis, those in the Atragene Group (technically it’s a subgenus), are clematis with a difference. The flowers are unique among clematis, because of the presence of petal-like blades called staminodes – modified stamens. These spoon- or spatula-shaped structures are often white or cream, and form a boss in the centre of the bloom, which enhances the look of the flowers. To complicate matters, the inner staminodes are often halfway to looking like true stamens (male reproductive parts of a flower), and the outers may be enlarged, petal-like.The Atragene Group contains 18 recognised species from mountain regions right across the northern hemisphere. Of these, five were important in the development of the exciting range of cultivars that are available to gardeners today. The alpine clematis (Clematis alpina) has blue, purple or lavender flowers, and is a rather variable species, inhabiting screes, scrub and woodland in the mountains of Central and Southern Europe. Essentially an eastern version of C. alpina, Clematis ochotensis is found in northeast Asia. Clematis sibirica is a typical atragene, but with white or cream flowers and a wide distribution, from southern Sweden to eastern Siberia. Next, Clematis macropetala – an eye-catching species that’s found in the wild in northwest China, Mongolia and adjacent regions of Siberia. Sometimes called the downy clematis, its flowers are blue-purple and are rather larger than those of C. alpina. Finally, Clematis koreana is a vigorous species from northeast Asia with elegant reddish-purple narrow flowers, with tapered sepals to 4cm long, blooming in late spring.

Fortunately for gardeners, these delicate-looking climbers are relatively unfussy and are simple to grow. While many gardeners find clematis cultivation a bit of a challenge, primarily because of their different pruning needs based on when and how they flower, the good news is that the atragenes don’t need any regular pruning. This is because they flower on the previous year’s shoots, so pruning these removes potential flowers. If you must prune, then remove only unwanted growth, immediately after flowering in early summer, taking shoots back to a strong pair of buds.Plants will succeed in most average garden soils, from slightly acid to alkaline, but won’t tolerate waterlogging or heavy clay. A balanced slow-release organic fertiliser applied in spring can be beneficial in helping maintain sturdy growth on poor soils. As with many clematis, they like their roots in shade or part shade, so exposed south-facing positions against walls and fences are generally unsuitable.

I think these beautiful plants look their best when they’re allowed to drape large shrubs or even small trees, taking into account that most of them will only grow to around 3m tall. They can also look effective sprawled against a part-shaded wall or fence, or carefully trained to a post or pergola, but in general they don’t mix well with roses or other climbers that require regular pruning. Honeysuckles can prove to be suitable garden companions, especially Lonicera periclymenum cultivars.

Seed is freely produced and is best sown the moment it’s ripe in late summer, into trays of peat-free seed compost then covered over with a layer of grit. Seedlings can be potted on into deep pots and, while it will vary to some extent when they come into flower, it’s generally in the second or third year from seed. The best of the plants can then be selected out for growing on. Established plants will occasionally self-sow in some favoured gardens.

The world of the Atragene Group has much to recommend it. There are a number of selections and hybrids that are worth a try, such as the fabulous ‘White Moth’ – perhaps the finest pure white, with small double flowers that are green in bud. With bright, golden-green foliage C. alpina ‘Stolwijk Gold’ has abundant lavender blue flowers, white in their centres. Another excellent and reliable cultivar, originating from the Suffolk garden of legendary artist and plantsman Sir Cedric Morris, is ‘Frances Rivis’. It’s a beauty, with ample nodding bells of gentian blue. Whichever one you chose, the atragenes will add grace and interest to your spring garden – and sometimes bring a few bonus flowers in autumn, too.

This page is an adaptation of an article published in the April 2025 edition of The Garden magazine, free to RHS members every month when you join the RHS.

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