Clematis 'Rosamunde'

Clematis 'Rosamunde' was raised around the year 2000 by breeder Willem Straver in Germany. Its 8–10 cm flowers are pink with darker bars: each of the six sepals carries a stronger pink central bar that lightens towards the tip. Dark green foliage and purple young stems add a pretty contrast.

'Rosamunde' flowers in May and June and, after pruning, a second time from July to August. At around 200 cm it suits obelisks, smaller supports and trellises, but also weaves through shrubs and thrives in containers. A semi-shaded position is ideal; keep the roots shaded and the soil fresh and well-drained.

'Rosamunde' is reliably winter-hardy (zone 6, down to about -23 °C). After the first flowering in June, cut the plant back to 75 cm – this encourages vigorous growth and the summer flush. It needs about two to five years to reach full size.