Clematis 'ROSALYN'

Clematis viticella 'Rosalyn' was bred in 2006 by the Dutch nursery J. van Zoest and introduced in 2014 under the cultivar code Zo09087. Its small, double to semi-double flowers (about 4 cm) carry four narrow, elliptical, purple-red tepals with clear gaps between them – a deeper red-purple inside with a paler base, slightly paler outside, especially along the midrib. The flowers nod gently and open in a loosely ruffled fashion, produced in great numbers.

From June to September, 'Rosalyn' flowers freely on the current year's growth. At around 200 cm, this variety suits trellises, lattice screens and obelisks well, making it a good choice for smaller gardens and confined spots where more vigorous viticella cultivars would grow too large.

'Rosalyn' is reliably winter-hardy (zone 5, down to about -28.8 °C) and copes well even with harsh winters. As a Group 3 cultivar, cut it back hard to about 25 cm in March; this keeps growth compact and encourages abundant flowering. The plant's sap can irritate skin on contact – gloves are recommended when pruning and handling.