Southern European deciduous climber with masses of small nodding bell flowers in purple, ruby, or pink through high summer. The hardiest and most disease-resistant clematis species and parent of many garden cultivars.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 4–9 | −34.4 °C to −1.1 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| RHS hardiness rating | H6 | −20 °C to −15 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 4–8 | −29 °C to −1 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 2–6 | −10 °C to 15 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
Growing notes
- Plant in sunny mid-border positions — flowers July–September, useful for filling the late-summer gap between roses and asters
- Naturally resistant to clematis wilt — among the safest clematis to plant where wilt has been a problem
- Pruning Group 3 — cut back hard to 30 cm each spring before new growth, simplest of all clematis pruning
- Cultivars include ‘Etoile Violette’, ‘Polish Spirit’, ‘Madame Julia Correvon’
Pet caution: Italian leather flower clematis is listed as potentially harmful to cats and/or dogs. Keep pets from grazing on it, and contact a vet if you suspect your animal has eaten some.
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Related plants
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