Clematis viticella 'Rubra'

Clematis viticella 'Rubra' has been in cultivation since 1883, and it is identical to 'Kermesina', introduced by the French nurseryman Victor Lemoine. The flowers open almost flat and reach 5 to 6 cm across: deep crimson to wine-red, with a paler, almost whitish blotch at the base of the slightly curled tepals, and dark brown to almost black stamens.

'Rubra' flowers from July to September and reaches a height of around 300 cm. This makes it ideal for climbing frames, trellises and fences, though it also shows to great effect growing through small trees, larger shrubs or conifers – a position in sun to part shade with moist, well-drained soil suits it best.

The variety is reliably hardy (zone 5, down to about -28.8 °C) and belongs to pruning group 3: cut 'Rubra' back to around 25 cm in March, and it will resprout vigorously and flower reliably on the current season's growth. Like most Viticella varieties, it is robust and easy to care for, undemanding of soil or site, and largely unaffected by clematis wilt.