PlantFiles: Clematis, Early Large-flowered Clematis
Clematis 'Josephine'

PPAF #12912

I have had this vine for 4 years. It has grown more slowly in partial shade than my other clematis vines, but has not shown any signs of distress. It blooms beautifully as it climbs up one of my apricot trees. I wish I could say the same for the apricot tree.

**UPDATE** ... Don't bother. Every pink one died a horrible death. Now Mid May 2011 and not one survived. Within weeks of the original posting they started wilting and then dead. Winter was not bad at all but these things died before fall. Soil was good as was water. I didn't bother after these were replaced and THOSE died too. Followed the instructions to the letter and no bugs could I find. Kept one indoors and one in shade to see if it made any difference. Nothing. DONT BOTHER!! at least if you live near me. ~~~~~~~~ORIGINAL POST -----> ~~~~~~~......Ok... Got this plant from an online retailer..4 blue and 2 pink. Through no fault of theirs USPS took 10 days to get them here. On arrival they all appeared dead but I planted each one seperately and hoped for the best. To my surpise 1 blue and 1 pink TOOK OFF!! lol. Only 2 weeks old in 7-8hrs of northern nevada sun a day & I already had to re-plant them once into larger containers. The others have dead stems but it seems the roots are still healthy so going to wait it out and see. I saw these blooming at a local nursery and if I was to give them a negative at all it would be that they have no fragrance. Shame for such a lovely flower.

I have a new redwood picket fence going up along the front yard and I'm going to train them along it alternating colors. Can't speak of long term as they are still new but, with seeing how hardy these lil guys & gals are, I'm hoping for the best. So far in 2 weeks they've gone from 1/4in buds to 7in tall seedlings. This rapid growth seems to have subsided now giving way to a "thickening" of the whole plant. On another side note...the retailer has been excellent at getting me the replacements. All in all I'm quite happy with my "afterthought" plants .... 1 more week and they go to ground.

Bird

I planted this along with Henrii on a trellis. I got beautiful flowers the first season. It did not make it over the 2007 winter. I only have Henrii now. I'm in zone 5a, so I'm not sure why this happened.

This plant does bloom predominately at the top, but its beautiful flowers are worth the top heavy growth. It is pretty easy to grow and blooms in the spring and later in the year in zone 7b, Enid, Oklahoma.

This clematis bloomed very heavily this third year in the garden and it was in continuous bloom for most of May and some of June.

Clematis gardening on the zone 3/4 line can be a challenge! I bought this plant at a big box store a couple of years ago and it was in tough shape with a few straggly and damaged stems. It has survived and though a slow grower, each year it has become more vigorous. I have noticed that it tends to bloom higher on the vine, but have many things planted at its feet so that has not been a problem. This also brings those lovely blooms right to eye level!
I would certainly like it if it had the explosive growth that jackmanii displays here, but I am satisfied with its slow and steady expansion and thrilled with each gorgeous blossom.

Received The Royal Horticultural Society, Award of Garden Merit (AGM) in 2002.

Clematis Josephine tends to bloom heavily at the very top of it's vine in the spring. It looks better if it's grown through another plant to hide the plain vine.