Duchess of Edinburgh Clematis

Clematis‘Duchess of Edinburgh’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 4a-9b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Flowering Vine

Height or Length at Maturity: 8-12′

Width at Maturity: 4-6’
Spacing: 4′ apart to cover fences and walls

Growth Habit / Form: Climbing, Dense, Twining, Twisted Branching

Growth Rate: Moderate

Flower Color: White with touch of Green at center
Flower Type: Double

Flower Size: 4-6″
Flowering Period: Late Spring to Early Summer, reblooms Late Summer to Early Fall

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Sun Needs: Full to Mostly Sun, Part Shade, All Day Lightly Filtered Sun

Water Needs: Average

Soil Type: Clay (Amended), Loam, Sand (Amended), Silt

Soil Drainage: Moist but Well Drained

Soil pH: 5.5 – 7.0

Maintenance / Care: Low

Pruning Group: 2

Attracts: Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Beneficial Pollinators, Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer, Disease, Heat, Humidity, Insect

Description

Introduced in the 19th century and still considered one of the best, the Duchess of Edinburgh Clematis features large double flowers measuring up to 6 inches across with layers of velvety white white petals that sometimes display a hint of green when they first open. Abundant flowers in late spring to early summer usually reblooming in late summer to early fall. This compact climber is ideal for containers, patios, and smaller gardens, where it supplies beautiful vertical interest to any fence or trellis without taking over.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Climbing 8 to12 feet high and spreading 4 to 6 feet, this Clematis is ideal for growing on fences, trellises, arches, mailbox pots, obelisks, poles, lamp posts and other structures. Excellent for pots, planters and other containers for situating on patios, decks and around other outdoor living spaces where the amazing flowers can be viewed from close up. A fine addition to Clematis gardens and white theme gardens.

Suggested Spacing: 4 feet apart to cover fences, trellises, and walls

Growing Preferences

This Clematis is easy to grow in a moist but well-drained soil of average fertility and full sun to part shade. Though it tolerates dry periods when established, it will appreciate an occasional watering in prolonged periods of dry weather. Make sure not to plant this one too deep as it tends to smother the plant. See pruning instructions just below.

Clematis Pruning Group 2

Clematis in Group 2 consist of all the early, large-flowered hybrid clematis that bloom in late spring or early summer and maybe again in late summer. Clematis in this group should be pruned lightly in late winter or early spring. Pruning consists of removing weak and crossing shoots then thinning down the plant to a structure of evenly spaced one and two year old stems. Cut each stem just above a pair of healthy buds. Plants in this group have the tendency to become bare at the base as they mature. You can under-plant with small shrubs or perennials to help conceal the bare stems. Alternatively, you can often force a flush of new growth from the base by cutting the vine back to 18 inches immediately after the flush of bloom.

An alternate method of pruning Group 2 clematis is to prune only every three or four years. In this case, the clematis should be pruned as described for Group 3 Clematis. This will produce a weak first flush of flowers in the summer after pruning.

Helpful Articles

Click on the link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Clematis vines

How To Plant A Clematis

How To Prune A Clematis

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