Clematis ‘Polish Spirit’ (Late Large-Flowered Clematis)

A truly remarkable clematis, Clematis ‘Polish Spirit’ is a free flowering large-flowered clematis with saucer-shaped, velvety, rich violet-purple flowers, 3 in. across (9 cm), adorned with lighter central bars and greenish-white and purplish stamens. Blooming from midsummer to early fall, this vigorous and extremely floriferous clematis has a healthy, robust presentation and a good resistance to clematis wilt. This is an excellent choice for trellises and can be trained to climb a wall, fence, or arbor. Combines beautifully with other climbers, such as climbing roses. Great with golden conifers or shrubs with golden leaves.

• Winner of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society for its noteworthy qualities.
• Thrives in moist, well-drained soils, in full sun or part shade. 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.
• Hardy to zones 4-11, it is incredibly free-flowering and can quickly grow up to 10-13 ft. long (300-390 cm).
• 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, 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.