Choosing 15 Clematis Varieties For Shade With The International Clematis Society
Elizabeth is a Permaculture Garden Designer, Sustainability Consultant and Professional Writer, working as an advocate for positive change. She graduated from the University of St. Andrews with an MA in English and Philosophy and obtained a Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design from the Permaculture Association.
Reviewed By COLIN SKELLY
Colin is a Horticulturist and Horticultural Consultant with experience in a range of practical and managerial roles across heritage, commercial and public horticulture. He holds the Royal Horticultural Society’s Master of Horticulture award and has a particular interest in horticultural ecology and naturalistic planting for habitat and climate resilience.
Contributions From KEN BLACK
Ken is the Membership Secretary of the British Clematis Society and a member of the International Clematis Society, RHS Silver-Medalist, Owner of Ken Black Clematis and star of his own YouTube channel, where he shares knowledge learned over the course of 40 years.
Fiona is the Secretary of the International Clematis Society and a member of the British Clematis Society. She has been growing Clematis for 40 years and even has a Clematis named in her honour!
IN THIS GUIDE
- Spring Flowering
- 1) C. montana var grandiflora
- 2) C. montana var. rubens ‘Tetrarose’
- 3) C. alpina ‘Pamela Jackman’
- 4) C. alpina ‘Helsingborg’
- 5) C. macropetala ‘Wesselton’
- Early Summer Flowering
- 6) ‘Marie Boisselot’
- 7) ‘Niobe’
- 8) ‘The President’
- 9) ‘General Sikorski’
- 10) ‘Nelly Moser’
- Summer and Autumn Flowering
- 11) ‘Jackmanii’
- 12) ‘Gipsy Queen’
- 13) ‘Perle d’Azur’
- 14) ‘Comtesse de Bouchard’
- 15) ‘Hagley Hybrid’
Clematis plants can be wonderful for bringing some light and brightness to a shady spot.
It is a versatile genus of flowering plants, which offers options for almost any setting.
“Clematis flowers are incredible, they give a real display and last a long time,” says Fiona Woolfenden, Secretary of the International Clematis Society.
“Clematis are reliable if planted in the right conditions and come up every year and by picking certain varieties, you could have a clematis in flower every month of the year!”
The shade-tolerating clematis climbers listed below will be great options for many shady spots, such as up against north-facing or east-facing walls or trellis fencing.
“I like to grow Clematis up and through trees and hedges,” explains Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly.
“This takes advantage of the support offered by trees and hedges and provides a more naturalistic feel than growing up a trellis or pergola.”
Spring Flowering
Spring flowering clematis are prized for their beautiful, often delicate blooms which appear early in the season.
Many which flower in spring are tolerant of a more shaded spot. Some options to consider are:
1) C. montana var grandiflora
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- FLOWERING MONTHS: SPRING
- AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT
This is one of my own personal favourites.
We have an extremely large and abundant plant of this type growing along a hedgerow at one side of the garden.
It flowers prolifically, not just on the sunny south side of the hedge adjacent to the road, but also on the north side of the hedge facing the garden.
The pristine white flowers emerge in late spring and early summer. It is a very vigorous climber which can quickly grow to brighten up a shady spot.
2) C. montana var. rubens ‘Tetrarose’
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- FLOWERING MONTHS: SPRING
- AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT
Another of the Montana group of clematis, ‘Tetrarose’ has beautiful flowers with mauvish-pink petals and light yellow stamens.
With similar characteristics to the above, other than the flower colour, this can be another wonderful early season clematis to consider for a partially shaded spot.
3) C. alpina ‘Pamela Jackman’
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- FLOWERING MONTHS: SPRING
- AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT
“Spring-flowering clematis comes mainly from a group known as atragenes, which grow in alpine areas, but not above the snow line,” explains Ken Black, from the plant nursery Ken Black Clematis.
C. alpina begins the list of 3 plants from this group that can cope with some shade.
The deep purple flowers, around 7cm wide, emerge from mid to late spring, and fluffy seed heads follow.
This is a clematis which is even hardier than the two options mentioned above. It will survive across all of the UK, even in extreme winters.
4) C. alpina ‘Helsingborg’
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- FLOWERING MONTHS: SPRING
- AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT
This is another in the Atragene Group, and also has nodding bell-shaped flowers.
“They are used to cold, windy conditions on the edge of forests or on screed slopes where the soil is well-drained,” says Ken, when discussing the properties of Atragene clematis.
“Because of their hardiness, varieties bred from this group are ideal for UK gardens, as long as their native conditions can be somewhat replicated.”
This particular cultivar has beautiful deep pinkish-purple flowers around 5cm long. Like the above, these appear in mid to late spring.
5) C. macropetala ‘Wesselton’
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- FLOWERING MONTHS: SPRING
- AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT
A third selection from the Atragene Group clematis, ‘Wesselton’ is another early-season option that really stands out from the crowd.
This also has nodding, bell-shaped flowers but the flowers on this clematis are unique.
The outer petals are a beautiful violet shade, and a number of staminodes within the flower, blueish with white undertones at the base, give it a double appearance.
What is more, these stunning flowers can be up to 10cm across.
Ken Black notes that varieties from the Atragene group do not need much pruning but they can be cut back to your desired shape or height if required.
Early Summer Flowering
Late spring or early summer flowering clematis are also valuable flowering climbers for a somewhat shady spot.
Ideally, place the roots in shade and allow the plant to climb up so its head is in the sun.
Flowering can be disappointing in a very shady spot, but these cultivars tolerate and even look best in partial shade:
6) ‘Marie Boisselot’
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- FLOWERING MONTHS: SUMMER / AUTUMN
We have to admit a partiality for clematis with pure white flowers, which stand out really well against deep greens in a more shaded location.
When it comes to summer flowering clematis for shade, our top pick is ‘Marie Boisselot’.
The large, flat single flowers are a lovely pure white, with light yellow stamens. These blooms can be up to around 20cm in width.
With a first and often second flowering, this clematis can be in flower from early summer right through to late summer or even early autumn.
7) ‘Niobe’
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- FLOWERING MONTHS: SUMMER
- AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT
This is another early large-flowered clematis to consider for a shady spot.
The large, star-shaped flowers of this cultivar are an unusual deep pinkish-red, with a hue that deepens as they age, and contrasts with their greenish-yellow stamens.
They can be around 15cm across.
8) ‘The President’
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- FLOWERING MONTHS: SUMMER / EARLY AUTUMN
- AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT
This cultivar also has large (up to 18cm in width) and dramatic flowers.
In this case, the flowers have eight overlapping sepals with a violet almost shading to silver, and pink and red stamens.
This cultivar like the above will flower in early summer, and often again in late summer or early autumn.
9) ‘General Sikorski’
- HARDINESS RATING: H4
- FLOWERING MONTHS: SUMMER
Another beautiful large-flowered clematis that can cope with shade, this cultivar also has large flowers up to 20cm or so across.
This option stands out for its brilliant deep purple petals which have a tinge of red at the base.
These deep petals contrast dramatically with vibrant and prominent yellow anthers.
It is H4 hardy.
10) ‘Nelly Moser’
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- FLOWERING MONTHS: SUMMER
- AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT
Perhaps one of the best-known clematis for a shady spot, ‘Nelly Moser’ is famed for its stunning 20cm wide flowers, which have eight distinctive petals, with pale pinkish mauve around the sides and darker pink stripes down the centre of each one.
In fact, since the flower colour fades in strong sun, it can be best to grow this clematis in a more shaded position.
Summer and Autumn Flowering
Summer and autumn flowering clematis are fantastic for adding late-season colour in your garden.
Here are just a few of the varieties from this varied group of climbers that will perform well in light or partial shade:
11) ‘Jackmanii’
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- FLOWERING MONTHS: SUMMER
- AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT
Jackman’s clematis has been enchanting gardeners since it was developed, as one of the earliest clematis hybrids, in the 19th Century.
This is a vigorous, medium-sized climber that will lose its leaves in the winter months, but look great all through summer.
The flowers are around 10cm across, in a beautiful shade of violet-purple and a velvety appearance.
When it comes to late-season clematis, this is one of our favourites that can cope with a moderately shady spot.
12) ‘Gipsy Queen’
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- FLOWERING MONTHS: SUMMER
- AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT
If you love purple flowers, then this cultivar is another great later season clematis to consider.
The flowers are 12-14cm across, with velvety purple petals and reddish-brown stamens.
This clematis flowers from midsummer to early autumn.
13) ‘Perle d’Azur’
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- FLOWERING MONTHS: SUMMER / AUTUMN
- AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT
This cultivar also has purplish flowers, around 10-12cm across, though these are of a lighter, more blueish-violet hue, with purple petal bases blushing a hint of pink on bars down the heart of each one, and yellowish stamens.
It is known to bloom prolifically.
14) ‘Comtesse de Bouchard’
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- FLOWERING MONTHS: SUMMER
- AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT
This late large-flowered clematis has charming rosy pink, somewhat striped flowers, with creamish-yellow stamens.
It flowers from early to late summer and is another cultivar whose colour can fade in a sunnier spot and so which can look best in a little shade.
15) ‘Hagley Hybrid’
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- FLOWERING MONTHS: SUMMER / AUTUMN
The pretty pink flowers and pinkish-red anthers of this cultivar are also born in abundance on this late-season clematis.
They open between midsummer and early autumn to bring an enchanting touch of delicate beauty to a shady spot.
These are not the only plants to consider, but they are amongst the best choices for a shady spot.
Remember, clematis will rarely flower well in seriously deep shade. But for a somewhat shaded location, the above options are all good ones to consider.
