The President Clematis Plants

20cm (8 ins) across and are a rich royal purple-blue with a central boss of red-purple anthers. The first flush sees the plant covered in huge blooms in Mayopens in May; on a warm wall it may begin in April and happen maybe 3 weeks later on an exposed pergola. Much later, in September you will get a second, lighter flush of smaller flowers on the current year's growth. The President holds an RHS Award of Garden Merit which simply means has been judged as being an outstanding plant in all respects when measured against (in this case) other Group 2 clematis. Plant it, give it something to climb, and it gets on with the job.

At about 3 metres it is a good size for a fence, an obelisk, a pergola, or a trellis on a wall. It handles more shade than most large-flowered clematis and grows well planted against north- and east-facing walls. Ideal for spots where varieties like Ernest Markham tend to struggle a bit. The flowers actually hold their colour better out of direct sun where they simply don't last as long; more sprinters than marathon runners. The President is hardy, and although it may flower later, it is a good choice for frost pockets and areas where winter can still be harsh. If you were thinking about your first large flowered clematis this would be a good choice.

The President and a Rose

Deep purple clematis growing through a pink rose is one of the classic pairings in British gardening. At home, a Narrow Water rambler (the best repeat-flowering pink rambler, in my opinion) has to put up with several clematis, but The President's colouring goes particularly well with the gentle pink of the rose. The timing works too: the rose flowers from June, the clematis from May, and both carry on through the summer months. Plant the clematis about 30–45cm from the base of an established climbing rose and let it find its own way up. For a different colour on the same structure, Nelly Moser in pale pink with a carmine bar is a softer contrast to all that saturated purple. Lavender, rosemary, stachys (Lambs Ear) or one of the true geraniums are all good plants to shade clematis and add a bit of low-level colour and interest at the same time.

Ask Us Anything

Ask us a question about your clematis and the answer comes from someone who helped produce it, which is not a marketing line but a statement of fact. We are a small team and everyone here gets their hands dirty in the nursery at some point during the year. The person on the phone is the person who took the cuttings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which clematis pruning group is The President?

Group 2, which means a light prune in February rather than the hard cut you would give a Group 3. Remove any dead or weak stems and shorten the remaining ones to just above a pair of strong buds. The old wood carries the best flowers in May and June, so the aim is to tidy rather than demolish. Our clematis pruning guide goes into more detail if you need it.

How deep should I plant The President?

Put the crown about 8–10cm below the soil surface, which feels too deep when you are doing it but is absolutely deliberate. That buried section of stem develops dormant buds that can regrow the whole plant if anything goes wrong above ground. Dig a wider hole than you think you need, improve the backfill with compost, and water in well. Our planting depth guide covers the full method.

Will The President grow on a north-facing wall?

Yes, and it is one of the best large-flowered clematis for exactly that situation. The purple-blue colour holds better out of direct sun than it does in a hot south-facing position, which is unusual and useful. A north wall, a shaded fence, or the dark side of a pergola all suit it well. Our shade-tolerant climbers guide has more suggestions if you are looking for ideas for a difficult wall.

Is clematis wilt a problem with The President?

The large-flowered clematis are all susceptible to wilt, The President included, but deep planting gives them excellent insurance because a plant with its crown buried 8–10cm underground can regenerate even if wilt kills everything visible above the soil. Wilt is also much less common than its reputation suggests; I may have seen it a dozen times in 60 years, but I have never seen an affected clematis fail to regrow.

Does The President clematis flower twice?

It does. The main display opens in May and June on last year's wood, with the largest and richest flowers. A second flush follows in September on the current season's growth; these flowers are usually a little smaller but the colour is the same deep purple-blue. If you deadhead after the first flush finishes it helps the plant put its energy into the repeat rather than into seed production.

Can I grow The President on an obelisk?

At 3 metres it is exactly the right size for a freestanding obelisk in a border, and it is well-behaved enough to stay where you put it without swamping everything around it. Tie the main stems in as they grow and let the side shoots find their own way. The deep purple flowers look particularly good surrounded by lower planting in silver, white, or pale pink. This is a more restrained clematis than the montanas or viticellas, which is either a virtue or a limitation depending on what you need it to do.