Clematis 'Bernadine'

Clematis 'Bernadine' arose from a cross made in 2003 on the Channel Island of Guernsey between British breeder Raymond Evison and Danish breeder Mogens Nyegaard Olesen; in 2012, Poulsen Roser of Denmark introduced the variety under the trade name 'Bernadine' (synonym 'Evipo061') as part of the Boulevard Series. Its roughly 15 cm, star-shaped flowers open in a pale blue with a pink flush along the midribs and carry a striking crown of white to dark red stamens.

From June to October, 'Bernadine' produces one flush of flowers after another – first on last year's wood, later also on the current season's growth. With a compact height of 80 to 120 cm, the variety is ideal for pots and window boxes, but works equally well on small trellises, obelisks, or towards the front of a border. It thrives in sunny to partly shaded, ideally sheltered spots.

'Bernadine' is very hardy (zone 4, down to around -34 °C) and easy to care for: after the first flowering, cut the plant back to about 100 cm in June; in early spring it is enough to remove dead and weak shoots. Thanks to its compact habit, 'Bernadine' needs very little space and rewards you with a long flowering season from its very first year.