Dr. Ruppel Clematis

The beauty of the large-flowering clematis vines is renowned, and a superb variety for your garden is the Doctor Ruppel Clematis. Few sights in the garden are as wonderful as this plant in full bloom, with the large flowers so abundant they hide the foliage. Each flower is up to 8 inches across, with five broad petals surrounding a center of creamy-white stamens. The petals undulate gracefully and are white, but marked with a bold central stripe of bright pink. Flowers appear in May and June, and the plant is in bloom for weeks. With correct pruning it will bloom again in late summer or early fall, so you get lots and lots of these gorgeous blooms for most of the summer. The plant is a self-clinging vine that will grow on a trellis or scramble up into shrubs and small trees. A popular combination is to grow one into a climbing rose. This is a fast-growing plant that will soon grow to 12 feet tall if it can, and be 3 or 4 feet across on a trellis. The leaves are in groups of three and the leaf-stalk will grab on to anything it can, twining around it to support the plant. Clematis can be grown on the wall of a house or on a fence, on a pergola or gazebo, over large shrubs, or on free-standing trellis panels or obelisks among shrubs or perennials.

• Spectacular 8-inch flowers in bright pink and white
• Flowers in May/June and again in late summer
• A fast-growing vine that is self-clinging on trellis, fences, shrubs or climbing roses
• A great way to add extra color and beauty to your shrub or perennial beds
• Plant with its head in the sun and feet in the shade

The Doctor Ruppel Clematis will grow in full sun or with some shade. In hotter areas afternoon shade is beneficial, protecting the blooms from fading and keeping your plant cool. Although shade tolerant, too much will limit flowering. Clematis prefer alkaline soils, so when planting add a handful of garden lime to the soil if the pH value is below 6.5. Plant in moist, compost-enriched soil that is well-drained. Water young plants regularly, and use mulch or flat stones to keep the soil moist, watering as needed. The ideal location has shade from shrubs or stones over the roots, with the vine growing up into the sun. This is a group 2 clematis variety, so it should be pruned lightly in spring, just removing dead growth and tidying the plant. The first blooming will come from short side-shoots on those older stems. After the first blooms are over, prune again, back to strong side-shoots. These will bloom again in the same year. Deer and rabbits don’t eat clematis, and they usually don’t have pest or disease problems. This variety is somewhat resistant to clematis wilt.