Clematis Wisley

Clematis ‘Wisley’ in June.

* Common name: Clematis Wisley(TM)

* Botanical name: Clematis vitacella

* What it is: A woody, winter-hardy twining vine that blooms a rich purple from June through September. Bred by renowned British clematis grower Raymond Evison, it’s not only a heavy- and long-blooming clematis, but it’s resistant to the dreaded clematis wilt that plagues so many clematis varieties.

* Size: Can grow 9 feet when trained up a trellis or arbor.

* Where to use: Grows well in full sun to part shade, but its roots appreciate the shading of a nearby shrub or groundcover.

* Care: Keep soil damp in hot summer. Fertilize with high-phosphorus, slow-acting fertilizer in spring, such as Flower-tone. Prune hard to about 1 foot in early spring.

* Great partner: Try massing white petunias around the base. It also looks great surrounded by ‘Flower Carpet Pink’ roses.