Pink Champagne Clematis

This new clematis from Japan, bred with the name of ‘Kakio’ (垣尾), might be pink to some people, but it’s going to be red to many others. It all depends, you see, on your local climate and the precise growing conditions and weather while blooming. Whatever the precise coloring, you will adore the amazing blooms and fabulous effect of the Pink Champagne™ Clematis. Up to 8 inches across, typically with 8 broad petals (technically called tepals), you will fall in love with the richness of the rose-pink to red coloring, lighter in the center of the tepals than around the edges. The center of the bloom has a bold cluster of golden stamens, giving the magnificent blooms a high-class look. This variety is a Group II clematis, so you will have a big spring blooming on older stems, between March and May, depending on where you garden, and another big display in September and October, on new stems. Don’t remove the dead flowers from the second blooming, as they turn into attractive, fluffy seed heads. Compact, just 5 to 9 feet tall, it is perfect for a trellis panel or fence, and can be grown in a large pot too. So get ready for a fabulous display of enormous and abundant flowers, and break open a bottle of you-know-what to celebrate its beauty.

• Huge, 6 to 8 inch blooms of bold rose-pink to red
• Blooms in spring and again in fall
• Grow on a trellis panel, pergola or fence
• ‘Head in the sun, feet in the shade’ is the rule for best growth
• Excellent variety to grow in a large pot, perhaps on a balcony

Plant the Pink Champagne™ Clematis in plenty of direct sun, but remember that these plants enjoy cool roots, so plant it behind a small shrub, for example, so the lower parts are shaded. Or, place a flat rock over the rootzone to keep the soil cool. Plant in any well-drained garden soil, enriching it with some compost before planting. Clematis like alkaline soil, so if yours has a pH below 6.5 add a handful of garden lime or crushed eggshells when preparing the ground. Water new plants regularly until they are established, and then during dry spells. Hardy in zone 4, but may only bloom there on new wood. This is a Group II (group 2) clematis variety, so it flowers both on older stems and new ones. In spring, wait until you can see buds swelling, and then remove any dead wood. Check down the stems from the top, cutting just above the first pair of strong buds. Then, after the spring blooming is over, trim lightly to remove most of the old flowers. Otherwise, clematis need little attention, as they are not eaten by rabbits or deer, and rarely have any serious pest or disease problems.