UK gardening help and assistance


DOUBLE FLOWERING CLEMATIS

Most of you who read this will already know that it is only the early summer flowers that are double . In most cases the late summer flowers are single. There are a couple of reliable exceptions which are mentioned individually. I am told that these varieties are less able to withstand cold winters than others without significant damage.

NAME AND DESCRIPTION

BEAUTY OF WORCESTER 
Deep blue flowers over a long period said to be double in spring I hope you see more of the doubles than I do! still worth growing, the blue is clear and clean Height to 2m

BELLE OF WOKING 
Pale silvery lilac mauve double flower which seems too heavy for the stems to support. Ideally always grown through a supporting shrub.

CHALCEDONY 
Large pale silver blue double flowers similar to Belle of Woking but the plant is completely different with good vigour and attractive foliage

COUNTESS OF LOVELACE 
Delicate pale lilac blue double with a very neat appearance of overlapping tepals. Can be difficult to establish and not very long lasting but worth all the effort.

DANIEL DERONDA 
Spring flowers semi double strong indigo purple colour surrounding yellow centre . Single later usually quite a vigorous grower good deep green foliage

DENNY'S DOUBLE
Very neat light ice blue double from the well respected stable of Vince Denny, I am told that the autumn flowers are also double but I cannot confirm this as yet.

DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH 
Large double white flowers in spring often with green edges to the tepals especially during cooler spells of weather. Often a pleasant scent can be detected. Can be slow to establish.

HIKARU GENGI 
Loose double in light to medium blue often showing contrasting stamens

KATHLEEN DUNFORD
Flowers semi double tepals nicely pointed colour rosy mauve yellow centre. Not often seen.

KIRI TA KANAWA 
Purple blue double flowers which tend not to be too large to be decent. I find it very floriforous.

LOUISE ROWE 
Single and double pale lilac flowers at same time, which is most unusual .Quite a good plant.

MRS.JAMES MASON Double at first flowering violet blue with red bar, frilly edges to tepals

MRS.SPENCER CASTLE 
Vigorous. First flowers semi double in crushed strawberry with cream centre. Height to 5m

MULTI BLUE 
The only clematis to carry double flowers on new growth later in the season. Clear dark mid blue with a spiky centre. Growth some what lax. Pruning optional

PROTEUS 
Double rose lavender at first followed by single flowers for rest of summer

P T JAMES 
An North American double. Clear mid blue upper tepal with a contrasting white blue underside. Not too neat which enhances the contrast.

ROYALTY 
Similar in shape and colour to Vyvyan Pennell but only a darker blue purple not so vigorous either.

SYLVIA DENNY 
Semi double clear white good shape with none of the usual green tinges. On the older double whites

THE VAGABOND 
Dark purple blue I think best described as a semi double of a slightly untidy form.

VERONICA'S CHOICE 
Full double in soft french grey. Has the vigour that other find difficult to match. Attractive.

VIOLET ELIZABETH 
Pinkish with a hint of blue in a double form. Described by Pennells the raiser as mauve pink. It is fully double.

VYVYAN PENNELL 
Classic double in blue tinged with red towards the centre. The single autumn flowers I find very disappointing.

WALTER PENNELL
A double with a greyish centre surrounded by deep lilac tepals with a crimson bar. I think that it is much to be preferred to the female of the family!

YUKIO KOSHI 
Smallish double white flowers with a hint of green, not too neat but neither are the flowers untidy. Has always performed well for me.


This article was originally published on the web at oviatt-ham.demon.co.uk (Malcolm Oviatt-Ham, Cambridge), however that website is defunct at 2014. The copyright is with Malcolm Oviatt-Ham.