Clematis ‘Fond Memories’ (Late Large-Flowered Clematis)

Very free-flowering, Clematis ‘Fond Memories’ produces an abundance of fabulously elegant flowers with pale creamy-white sepals delicately edged with a pencil line of deep rosy lavender. Adorned with deep red-purple anthers, the huge flowers, up to 7 in. across (18 cm), have a charming satin sheen. The undersides of the unfurling sepals are a very deep rosy lavender, providing additional complimentary details. Flowering over a long period from early summer to early autumn, this large-flowered clematis has a semi-evergreen foliage of glossy, dark green leaves which may remain on the plant during mild winters. This prolific clematis is ideal for scrambling through shrubs or covering trellises, arbors, pergolas, and walls. Great for containers too!

• Easy to grow and cultivate, it thrives in moist, well-drained soils, in full sun. Tolerates part shade, but this clematis needs full sun from the ground up for better blooms. Ideally, Clematis prefer having their ‘heads in the sun and their feet in the shade’. Keep the roots cool and shaded by other plants or add a layer of pebbles or flat stones at the base. Afternoon shade is appreciated in hot summer areas.
• This clematis can quickly grow up to 6-8 ft. long (180-240 cm).
• Deadhead after the first wave of blooms to promote new blooms.
• This Clematis belongs to the third group of Clematis – a group including Clematis which flower in late summer on growth made in that season. They should be pruned in late winter or early spring and require ‘hard pruning’: simply cut back the stems to a pair of strong buds about 1ft. (30 cm) above ground level before growth begins in early spring.
• Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.

As climbers, Clematis are unsurpassed in their long flowering presence, their rich diversity of flower shapes, and their wide array of colors and tolerances in terms of exposure and climate. It is no wonder they are so popular! From tree huggers to container varieties, there is a Clematis for every garden and flowers for almost every month of the year! Members of the Ranunculaceae family, they include more than 300 species and hundreds of hybrids. They create year after year a ravishing colorful show in the garden whether solely trained on walls, arbors, or trellises, or grown in association with other climbers. They are divided into 3 groups which determine how they should be pruned. Regular pruning of Clematis is important as it promotes strong growth and flowering as well as a harmonious plant. If left unpruned, Clematis can turn into a mass of tangled stems with a bare base and flowers well above eye level.