Clematis 'Rebecca'

Clematis 'Rebecca' was raised by English breeder Raymond Evison and introduced in 2007/2008; it is named after his daughter. Its flowers, up to 20 cm across, glow in rich, velvety red and are set off by creamy, sometimes reddish-tinged stamens – a striking contrast to the broad, slightly overlapping sepals.

At 185 to 245 cm, 'Rebecca' is well suited to trellises, obelisks and other supports, and grows equally well in containers on a patio or balcony. It flowers abundantly from May to September: after the first flush in early summer, a strong second flush follows in late summer. In a sunny to semi-shaded spot, such as a south-, east- or west-facing aspect, the flower colour glows most intensely.

'Rebecca' is reliably winter-hardy (zone 5, down to about -29 °C) and copes well even with harsh winters. Cut the plant back to about 75 cm in June to encourage vigorous new growth and a rich second flush. Give it two to five years to establish – then it will show its full splendour year after year.