Clematis 'Wildfire'

Clematis 'Wildfire' is a Polish cultivar raised in 1994 by breeder Szczepan Marczyński from a cross with 'Mrs. N. Thompson'. Its flowers measure 18–23 cm across and appear in violet with darker stripes: the six to eight sepals are violet-blue, carry a red-purple bar and have slightly wavy margins. Red-purple anthers on white filaments add a bold accent at the centre.

At 200–300 cm, 'Wildfire' climbs by its twining leaf stalks up fences, pergolas, trellises and other supports, and can also scramble through shrubs that do not need hard pruning. The first flush appears in May and June, with a second flush from August to September. It looks especially attractive against a light background and next to plants with yellow foliage or yellow flowers. A sunny to semi-shaded spot with moist, well-drained soil suits it well.

'Wildfire' is very hardy (zone 4, down to about -34 °C). For care, cut the plant back to about 50 cm in March.