Clematis 'Hania'

Clematis 'Hania' comes from the Polish breeder Szczepan Marczyński, who raised it in 1993 from a cross of 'Rouge Cardinal' with an unknown parent and named it in 2000. The name honours his mother – 'Hania' is a short form of Hanna. The large, single flowers measure 10–15 cm across and show a velvety deep purple with a paler pink margin; a white bar runs down the outside. Six sepals frame the yellow anthers on white filaments, and the young foliage carries a purple tint.

'Hania' flowers from July to September. At around 300 cm tall, it takes over a trellis, pergola or arbour and also climbs through small trees, conifers and shrubs. It is happiest in part shade on an east-, west- or north-facing aspect; it dislikes extremely hot, sunny spots. The soil should be moist but well-drained, and the roots should stay shaded.

'Hania' is hardy (zone 6, -23.3 to -17.8 °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. Plant it so that the crown sits 5–8 cm below the soil surface. In 2002 the cultivar was awarded a bronze medal at the Plantarium tree and shrub trade fair.