Clematis 'Vera' (M)
clematis 'Vera'
Vigorous, deciduous climber about 9m in height, with large, coarse dark green leaves, lightly tinted bronze when young, and single, fragrant, saucer-shaped, deep pink flowers to 7cm across, with a mass of yellow stamens, flowering late spring to early summer, earlier in milder parts of the country
Size
Ultimate height
8–12 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
4–8 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Pink | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Pink | |||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Climbing
- Potentially harmful
- Skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets (rabbits): Harmful if eaten. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
- Genus
Clematis can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs or herbaceous perennials, mostly climbing by twining leaf-stalks, and often with showy flowers. Some have attractive fluffy seedheads in autumn
- Name status
Accepted
- Horticultural Group
- Montana Group clematis are vigorous deciduous climbers with single, 4-petalled flowers opening in late spring and early summer
How to grow
Cultivation
Plant in moisture-retentive, well-drained soil, with the roots and base of the plant kept cool and shaded by other plants or a layer of pebbles at the base. Plant with the crown 5-8cm deep to encourage new shoots to grow from below ground level. See clematis cultivation
Propagation
Propagate by softwood cuttings in spring, semi-ripe cuttings in early summer or layering
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Coastal
- Wildlife gardens
- Climber and wall shrubs
- Wall side borders
- Hedging and screens
Pruning
Pruning (clematis) group 1 - any pruning to tidy the plant or to keep it within bounds should be carried out after the flowering is finished in late spring. Remove some of the old flowered stems.
Pests
May be susceptible to aphids, snails and caterpillars; petals may be eaten by earwigs
Diseases
May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), clematis wilt and clematis slime flux
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.