Clematis varieties come in a wealth of sizes, shapes, and colors, so there's something that will work for just about every garden out there. These hardy vines are beloved for their large, colorful flowers that lend a somewhat tropical feel to gardens even in the far north. Some types of clematis offer smaller but equally breathtaking blooms. Here are 15 of the most stunning clematis varieties that are well worth a spot in your garden.
‘Josephine’
Blooming June through August, ‘Josephine’ produces huge flowers that feature a rim of wide, pink-striped outer petals and a multitude of smaller, pink-striped inner petals, giving each flower a puffball look. This stunning clematis variety grows about 8 feet tall and is hardy in USDA Zones 4–8.
‘Jackmanii’
Possibly one of the most popular and familiar clematis varieties, 'Jackmanii' boasts rich purple flowers in summer. It will often rebloom in fall if cut back after the first bloom. Place 'Jackmanii' in full sun to part shade where its graceful vines can climb to about 12 feet tall. Zones 4–8
‘Bees’ Jubilee’
‘Bees’ Jubilee’ is easily one of the most eye-catching clematis varieties thanks to its two-tone petals and huge flower size. The clusters of light pink, single flowers sport bands of darker pink down the center of each petal. Each flower can reach 8 inches or more across. Zones 5-9
‘Duchess of Edinburgh’
‘Duchess of Edinburgh’ blooms in early summer with fully double white flowers that fade to green. This clematis variety produces a second flush of flowers in late summer that are partially double or even single. This unique shape-shifter gets about 8 feet tall and it’s hardy in Zones 4–9.
‘General Sikorski’
‘General Sikorski’ offers rich lavender blooms with yellow centers that give this clematis variety a starry look. The flowers appear in early summer and get up to 8 inches across. This clematis will rebloom in late summer, and grows up to 12 feet tall. Zones 4–9
‘Doctor Ruppel’
The 6- to 8-inch flowers of ‘Doctor Ruppel’ have light pink petals striped with deep pink down the center, giving them a star-like quality when combined with the yellow anthers in the center. The blooms appear in late spring and again in late summer. This flowering vine reaches upward of 10 feet tall in Zones 4–9.
‘Henryi’
‘Henryi’ sports huge, bright white flowers with reddish-brown centers against a backdrop of dark green foliage. Plant this vigorous flowering vine beside a large, sturdy trellis or fence to provide support. It blooms primarily on the previous year’s stems in June and again on new growth later in the summer. It’s hardy in Zones 4–8.
‘Rebecca’
If you're looking for a clematis you can plant in a container, ‘Rebecca’ is a wise choice. It grows about 6 feet tall and is covered in large, bright red flowers in early summer and again in late summer if cut back after the first flowering. It's hardy in Zones 4–9.
‘Samaritan Jo’
‘Samaritan Jo’ is more reminiscent of poinsettias than clematis, thanks to its creamy, double pointed petals. Each petal has purple edges and pale green ribs, and the flowers have a bright yellow center. And the blooms keep coming from mid spring to late summer. This compact 6-foot variety is another excellent option for growing in containers in Zones 4–9.
‘Cloudburst’
With its profusion of 5-inch flowers, wide petals, and dark centers, ‘Cloudburst’ has a distinctive look. This clematis variety produces purple flowers that have an almost watercolor effect, beginning halfway through the summer. This selection blooms on old and new wood, ensuring many flowers each season in Zones 4–9.
‘Frances Rivis’
The small, nodding flowers of ‘Francis Rivis’ give this clematis a different look than the large-flowered clematis varieties that you may be more familiar with. Its beautiful bluish-purple flowers appear early in the season on old wood, and bloom again toward the end of summer or even into fall. This clematis variety grows to around 9 feet tall and is best displayed where its nodding flowers can truly be enjoyed, such as in containers around outdoor seating. Zones 3-9
‘Empress’
The aptly named ‘Empress’ clematis has impressive 5-inch flowers, showy pink petals, and a flamboyant double form. However, ‘Empress’ eventually tops out at under 10 feet tall, making it a good choice for smaller gardens or even containers where it can either grow up with support or be allowed to trail down. It is hardy in Zones 4–10.
‘Multi Blue’
Another double-flowered clematis, ‘Multi Blue’ produces 4- to 6-inch purple flowers with a spiky look to their centers. The vibrant flowers of this clematis variety may look tropical, but the plant has excellent cold tolerance, down to Zone 3. Growing to only 5 or 6 feet tall, ‘Multi Blue’ makes a great container plant even in cold climates.
Virgin's Bower
Also known as woodbine, virgin's bower (Clematis virginiana) is native to North America and grows about 15-20 feet tall at maturity. Loads of small white flowers appear in autumn, perfuming the air with sweet fragrance. It is sometimes confused with sweet autumn clematis (Clematis terniflora), which also has small white flowers that bloom in the fall, but is considered invasive. Virgin's bower can grow aggressively and self-seed profusely so grow it where you can keep it in check. This clematis is hardy in Zones 6-8.
‘Duchess of Albany’
Last but not least is the gorgeous ‘Duchess of Albany,’ a clematis hybrid with small, fluted, somewhat nodding, pink flowers. This cultivar reaches an eventual height of about 20 feet but should be planted in a location where its demure flowers can be enjoyed close range from late summer into fall. Zones 4–9
