DOUBLE FLOWERING CLEMATIS

Most of you who read this will already know that it is only the early summer flowers that are double . In most cases the late summer flowers are single. There are a couple of reliable exceptions which are mentioned individually. I am told that these varieties are less able to withstand cold winters than others without significant damage.

NAME AND DESCRIPTION

BEAUTY OF WORCESTER: Deep blue flowers over a long period said to be double in spring I hope you see more of the doubles than I do! still worth growing, the blue is clear and clean Height to 2m
BELLE OF WOKING: Pale silvery lilac mauve double flower which seems too heavy for the stems to support. Ideally always grown through a supporting shrub.
CHALCEDONY: Large pale silver blue double flowers similar to Belle of Woking but the plant is completely different with good vigour and attractive foliage
COUNTESS OF LOVELACE: Delicate pale lilac blue double with a very neat appearance of overlapping tepals. Can be difficult to establish and not very long lasting but worth all the effort.
DANIEL DERONDA: Spring flowers semi double strong indigo purple colour surrounding yellow centre . Single later usually quite a vigorous grower good deep green foliage
DENNY'S DOUBLE: Very neat light ice blue double from the well respected stable of Vince Denny, I am told that the autumn flowers are also double but I cannot confirm this as yet.
DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH: Large double white flowers in spring often with green edges to the tepals especially during cooler spells of weather. Often a pleasant scent can be detected. Can be slow to establish.
HIKARU GENGI: Loose double in light to medium blue often showing contrasting stamens
KATHLEEN DUNFORD: Flowers semi double tepals nicely pointed colour rosy mauve yellow centre. Not often seen.
KIRI TA KANAWA: Purple blue double flowers which tend not to be too large to be decent. I find it very floriforous.
LOUISE ROWE: Single and double pale lilac flowers at same time, which is most unusual .Quite a good plant.
MRS.JAMES MASON: Double at first flowering violet blue with red bar, frilly edges to tepals
MRS.SPENCER CASTLE: Vigorous. First flowers semi double in crushed strawberry with cream centre. Height to 5m
MULTI BLUE: The only clematis to carry double flowers on new growth later in the season. Clear dark mid blue with a spiky centre. Growth some what lax. Pruning optional
PROTEUS: Double rose lavender at first followed by single flowers for rest of summer
P T JAMES: An North American double. Clear mid blue upper tepal with a contrasting white blue underside. Not too neat which enhances the contrast.
ROYALTY: Similar in shape and colour to Vyvyan Pennell but only a darker blue purple not so vigorous either.
SYLVIA DENNY: Semi double clear white good shape with none of the usual green tinges. On the older double whites
THE VAGABOND: Dark purple blue I think best described as a semi double of a slightly untidy form.
VERONICA'S CHOICE: Full double in soft french grey. Has the vigour that other find difficult to match. Attractive.
VIOLET ELIZABETH: Pinkish with a hint of blue in a double form. Described by Pennells the raiser as mauve pink. It is fully double.
VYVYAN PENNELL: Classic double in blue tinged with red towards the centre. The single autumn flowers I find very disappointing.
WALTER PENNELL: A double with a greyish centre surrounded by deep lilac tepals with a crimson bar. I think that it is much to be preferred to the female of the family!
YUKIO KOSHI: Smallish double white flowers with a hint of green, not too neat but neither are the flowers untidy. Has always performed well for me.

This article was originally published on the web at oviatt-ham.demon.co.uk (Malcolm Oviatt-Ham, Cambridge), however that website is defunct at 2014. The copyright is with Malcolm Oviatt-Ham.