If you need a white Clematis, you can hardly do better than 'Huldine'. Scads of pearly white 3-4-inch flowers smother the vine in June, and it blooms on and on till late summer—without doubt the best repeat-blooming white Clematis. It can scramble over a spring-blooming shrub to extend its season of interest, or as the late English garden writer Christopher Lloyd recommended, you can grow it up a pole or over a high wall so that you can experience a marvelous see-through effect when viewed from below. Z. 4-8

Masses of fragrant white flowers adorn this drought-tolerant Clematis in late spring. A sprawler rather than a climber, it develops into a 3-foot-high mound. Z. 5-7

Discovered by Harlan Hamernik in northern China, this remarkable Clematis is so compact that it is recommended as an edging plant with larger perennials or shrubs. It can even be used as a groundcover. Mongolian Bells blooms off and on all summer in pink, white, lavender, or blue. Grows about a foot or so high and wide and tolerates dryish soils in full sun or light shade. All our plants bloomed last summer in the pots, and we are able to offer specific colors. Shades from light blue to lavender. Z. 3-8

Clear pink. Z. 3-8

Pure white. Z. 3-8

Dark yellow bell flowers appear in June and again in October on a vine that reaches 10 feet. Feathery seedheads begin appearing before summer's end and persist well into winter, a notable ornamental feature. 'Aureolin' is a fine Dutch selection of this Chinese Clematis. Z. 3-8

This vigorous and easy-to-grow Asian Clematis reaches 12 feet and would be worth growing for its ferny gray-green foliage alone. It is enhanced in late summer by 1.5-inch yellow flowers with petals that are so thickly textured that it has been called the Orange-Peel Clematis. Z. 5-8

Rich indigo-blue flowers, 4 inches across, decorate this lax, non-clinging vine from summer into fall. It reaches only 6-8 feet, and thus it's happy being grown through a shrub or tied to a small trellis. It dies back to the ground each winter. This is one of the sturdiest Clematises we offer, and a customer reports that, with no particular care, a plant we supplied him is thriving in gravelly soil at the New Jersey shore only 100 yards from the ocean. Z. 4-8

A vigorous, late-blooming Clematis with 1.5-inch pure white, slightly fragrant flowers and yellow stamens appearing from July to September. A vigorous Clematis that can be allowed to cover a fence or grow up into a tree. Z. 3-9

Here's a good choice where a strong-growing Clematis is needed for climbing up an arbor. C. x triternata 'Rubromarginata' reaches 10-12 feet and from July to September fragrant 1.5-inch starlike white flowers with wine-colored tips and edges appear in great abundance. Oh yes, and the flowers are fragrant, too! Z. 5-9

This fine new introduction is an early bloomer with deep pink tepals, and the semidouble flowers have fluffy pink and white stamenoids. Free flowering with attractive seed heads displayed much of the summer along with some repeat bloom. Z. 4-8

The 1.5-inch semidouble flowers are pale pink with bright red veins, creating an unusually showy effect for the normally demure C. alpina. Flowers appearing during cooler weather have a bicolor pink-and-white appearance, while summer flowers have an overall rich pink glow. A long flowering season from May to July and attractive seed heads add appeal to this worthy new introduction. Z. 4-8

In early summer the rich blue flowers bloom against the backdrop of golden foliage. The foliage leafs out bright yellow before gradually turning to green as the season progresses, but the new foliage is always brightly colored. Plant in shade or filtered light to keep the foliage looking its best. PPAF. Z. 4-8

Lovely slate-blue, semidouble flowers appear in April and May with a good sprinkling of repeat bloom through the summer. Long, slightly twisted petals are particularly appealing, as is the fine foliage. Grows to about 10 feet. Quite rare in the trade. (C. macropetala x C. alpina). Z. 3-7

Clematis macropetala is one of our favorites, vigorous and easy to grow. Its superhardy stems overwinter in all but bitterly cold winters enabling the vine to put on a glorious display of small to medium-sized flowers on old wood in spring, followed by sporadic repeat bloom on new wood through summer. 'Lagoon' is a splendid new release which produces deep blue flowers with contrasting cream-colored staminodes in the center, fresh and appealing in spring and a delight through summer. Z. 3-7

Scrumptious strawberry-colored flowers appear in May and June with some repeat during the summer. The outside of the nodding flowers is richly colored, like crushed strawberries, while the numerous inner petals are milky white with a hint of pink. It grows so densely that it is attractive even when allowed to sprawl, or it can climb 10-12 feet. Z. 4-8

A captivating selection already over a hundred years old but still going strong! Starry dark violet blooms just keep coming most of the summer and into fall. It's exceedingly attractive romping through the shrubbery or across a small trellis. Grows to about 9-12 feet and may be pruned back hard in spring.

Nodding, flat white flowers with recurved green tips appear July to September. Flowers are 3 inches across and have a pronounced eye of dark stamens. A vigorous plant to 10 feet.

We can always count on C. viticella, the Italian Clematis, to produce a great show of flowers through much of the summer and for ease of cultivation. Most C. viticella offered are actually hybrids, but 'Betty Corning', more than others, retains the elegance of the species. Light lavender bellflowers with charming recurved petal tips are held well away from the vine on long stalks and face downward—airy and enchanting.

A famous old French selection with bright rosy red petals which are slightly twisted and do not overlap. It is a strong grower and produces flowers on new wood for a long period starting in late June.

Four-inch mauve-blue flowers appear from July through early September on an especially compact plant, that reaches only 6 feet or so. Flowers are somewhat nodding at first and then open up nearly flat, creating an effect of floral abundance. This is a good choice for a container or a small trellis. A very pretty introduction which has apparently been around for a while but is just now becoming available.

Wow! Upward facing, 3-inch flowers with rich purple margins and white, purple-veined centers—a stunning contrast. One of the largest-flowered C. viticella hybrids, 'Venosa Violacea' is also vigorous and easy to grow. Flowers are produced through the summer and into early autumn. If desired, prune in early spring.

This new selection bears intense red flowers with white shading starting in June. The flowers age to purple. While a profuse bloomer, 'Walenburg' grows only 10-12 feet high.

Break out those old beads and bell bottoms and relive the '60s with this new sport of Clematis 'Jackmanii'! Prolific purple flowers with white marbling make their appearance on new wood through summer. A vigorous and easy to grow large-flowered selection. Peace, man! Z. 4-8

A recent introduction with 4 to 5-inch flowers of an incredible velvety red. Flowers appear in late June into September, and the vine is restrained in growth, reaching some 6-8 feet in height. Z. 4-8