Clematis 'EXCITING'

Clematis 'Exciting' (breeding code 'Zoexci') was raised by the Dutch nursery J. van Zoest and introduced in 2011; in 2012 it received the bronze medal at Plantarium. Its 3–6 cm, star-like flowers glow in a rich purple-violet, with glossy purple-red buds and slightly rolled sepal edges revealing creamy-white to yellowish stamens.

At around 150 cm, 'Exciting' stays pleasantly compact and is well suited to smaller supports, obelisks and containers on the balcony or terrace. From June to September it flowers abundantly and for a long season — despite belonging to the large-flowered patens hybrids, its blooms remain agreeably dainty and look especially delicate as a result.

'Exciting' is reliably winter-hardy (zone 6, down to about -23 °C). 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.