Clematis vitacella 'Venosa Violacea'

Raised by Victor Lemoine of Nancy, France.  Introduced in 1883.  Flowers are 4" in diameter, deep violet with a white central bar and purple veining.  Vitacella's produce smaller flowers but generally in larger numbers than large flowered hybrids.  This is an old variety, well known and proven here in the US.   Awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit.  Also known as Violet Stargazer. 

Flowering period: Mid-summer to early fall.

Habit: Moderately fast growing deciduous climbing vine.

Height: 8-10'.

Exposure:  Sun to part shade. 

Site: Tolerates most garden soils. 

Recommended use:  Grow on a trellis, arbor, obelisk, wall or fence, separately or in combination with other plants.  Good companion plant for roses.  Allow to crawl over low growing plants of yellow color for sharpest contrast.

Pruning:  (Group 3) This is perhaps the easiest group to prune.  It will bloom on the current season's growth every year.  Pruning is quite simple, cut every winter down to 12-18 inches above the soil. 

Watering:  Likes regular water. Soil should be moist but not wet.  Water deeply and then allow to dry some to encourage deep rooting.

Zones: 3-9.