Clematis 'Warszawska Nike'

Clematis 'Warszawska Nike' was raised in the 1960s by Brother Stefan Franczak, a Jesuit monk from Warsaw, and has been known in the English-speaking world as 'Warsaw Nike' since 1986. The cultivar name honours the Greek goddess of Victory, Nike, and at the same time evokes the Warsaw Nike monument dedicated to the heroes of the Warsaw Uprising of 1944. The flowers, 8–12 cm across, are remarkable for their velvety depth: opening almost black, they expand into a distinctive dark reddish-purple with a faint redder bar along the centre of each sepal; the undersides shimmer silvery grey. The contrasting bright-yellow stamens provide a striking focal point.

'Warszawska Nike' blooms reliably and abundantly from July to September. Hard pruning in spring delays flowering to new growth, resulting in a long display from midsummer through autumn; leaving some old wood in place produces an early spring flush followed by a second flowering in high summer after a light trim. With its compact growth of around 200 cm, it is well suited to an obelisk, wall trellis, or combination with smaller shrubs and roses – against a light-coloured background or alongside pink and yellow flowers, the dark blooms are seen to best advantage. Its suitability for large containers also makes 'Warszawska Nike' a reliable choice for terraces and balconies.

Hardy to Zone 6 (to –23 °C), 'Warszawska Nike' is a robust, trouble-free cultivar. A partially shaded position is recommended, as the dark reddish-purple colour is better preserved away from full sun; very exposed sunny sites may cause the colour to lighten towards pinkish tones. Prune back to about 50 cm in March. Overall the cultivar has modest requirements and rewards even less experienced gardeners with an impressive display.