Clematis 'Duchess of Edinburgh'

Clematis 'Duches of Edinburgh' is a showy, perennial, large-flowered clematis offering late spring/early summer to late summer interest, blooming heavily in late spring/early summer with a second wave of blooms in late summer/early fall on the current year's growth. Free flowering, the plant sets large, 4- to 6-inch, rosette-shaped, pure white double flowers with a center boss of white filaments and creamy stamens. The later flushes produce semidouble or single-petaled blooms. The plant blooms on old and new wood, and at maturity, the vine is fully covered in flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. The flowers have strong stems and a long vase life.

A deciduous woody vine, Clematis 'Duches of Edinburgh' has a moderately vigorous, twining, and trailing habit of bright green leaves that stay fresh and attractive all season. There is an old saying about clematis' growth rate: The first year they sleep, the second year they creep, and the third year they leap. Train clematis to climb a trellis, arbor, post, or fence, adding vertical interest. Or allow it to amble along the ground, meandering gracefully through the shrubbery. But for something really special, pair it with a climbing rose, allowing the nimble clematis to twine its way around the sturdy rose stalks. The two will elegantly mingle blooms in the early season, but the clematis will carry it through the heat of summer and the rose will pick up again in fall as the clematis' blooms fade.

Cold hardy, easy to grow, and disease resistant, Clematis 'Duches of Edinburgh' prefers cool, moist, well-drained soil and full sun to part shade. Good site selection is key. So, remember the adage for success with clematis when planting: feet in the shade, head in the sun. The plant should be placed where the leaves get plenty of sunshine (approx. 6 hours), but the roots are shaded and kept cool, either by low-growing, evergreen shrubs or by heavy mulch. Good drainage is important, and extremely wet locations should be avoided. Protect plants from strong winds but allow good air circulation. Deer resistant.

A Group 2 large-flowered clematis (includes rebloomers that produce flowers on old wood in late spring/early summer and often bloom again on new wood [current season's growth] in late summer or fall), Clematis 'Duches of Edinburgh' should be pruned moderately in late winter to early spring before blooming has begun. Remove dead wood and cut the remaining stems 6 to 8 inches, to the topmost pair of large, plump green buds. Trim just enough to encourage new growth without losing promising buds. Deadheading spent flowers encourages new blooms. If training to climb, loosely tie the vines to their structure at this time.

Uses: Arbors, Pergolas, Trellises, Wall Sides, Fences, Borders, Beds, and Containers