10 Purple Clematis Varieties For Your Trellis (Pictures & Care Tips)

The genus clematis has more than 1000 species including natural and hybrid cultivars. If there is an old fence or wall in your garden that needs some makeover to look attractive, adding some clematis vines can be a great choice.

Here are the 10 best purple clematis varieties that you can grow immediately, each with an overview of its origin, flower characteristics, and a short profile.

1. Clematis macropetala

Clematis macropetala is a hardy and moderately vigorous climbing vine identified in the forests of Northern China, Eastern Siberia, and Eastern Mongolia. They are one of the shortest purple clematis varieties and can reach only 3m in height. 

In spring, they produce flowers in the pale blue to purple shade. The flowers are composed of four medium-sized petals (5cm long) and yellow staminodes that resemble miniature petals.

To thrive, Clematis macropetala requires highly draining soil with high organic content. Regarding light, try to keep the roots in shade and flowers in bright sun. Since this variety is not very tall, they are often used as groundcovers by many gardeners.

• Other Name(s): Downy Clematis
• Origin: Northern China
• Plant Group: Atragene
• Pruning Group: 1
• Plant Height: 6-9ft (2-3m)
• Flowering Season: Spring
• Maintenance: Easy for beginners
• Light Exposure: Full & Partial Sun
• USDA Zones: 4-9
• UK RHS Zones: H3-H6

2. Clematis ‘Jackmanii’

Clematis Jackmanii is one of the most commonly grown clematis varieties by gardeners across the world. It is a hybrid cross between C. Henderson and C. lanuginosa, two purple clematis varieties. 

Similar to most other siblings, they are very hardy and have quite a vigorous growth rate. Throughout the summer, they bloom dark velvet-purple flowers continuously, making them a free-flowering cultivar. These single-layer flowers have four to six slightly twisted petals along with greenish cream anthers.

This variety is grown best in moist and well-draining soil. Also, make sure that it gets either full or partial sun to showcase its full potential in blooming. Because of its showy flowers and universal popularity, it has been awarded the RHS First Class certificate in 1863.

• Other Name(s): Jackman’s Clematis
• Origin: England
• Plant Group: Large Flower Group
• Pruning Group: 3
• Plant Height: 10-12ft (3-3.6m)
• Flowering Season: Summer
• Maintenance: Pretty easy
• Light Exposure: Full & Partial Sun
• USDA Zones: 4-11
• UK RHS Zones: H1c-H6

3. Clematis ‘Franziska Maria’

Similar to C. Jackmanii, Clematis ‘Franziska Maria’ is another commonly grown cultivar. If you want a showy double purple clematis variety, then ‘Franziska Maria’ should be the first choice.

‘Franziska Maria’ is one of the very few free-flowering purple clematis varieties to bloom twice a year. The seasons are from late spring to mid-summer and late summer to early fall. Depending on the seedling, they may either produce semi or double flowers with blue-purple color.

This cultivar likes to stand in moist and well-drained soils in full or partial sun. If you happen to live in hot and tropical countries, partial shade is better than full sun. The origin and parentage of this variety are not known but expected to be from a chance seedling.

• Other Name(s): Clematis ‘Evipo008’, Franziska Maria Clematis
• Origin: Unkown
• Plant Group: Large Flowered Clematis
• Pruning Group: 2
• Plant Height: 5-7ft (1.5-2m)
• Flowering Season: Spring, Summer & Early Fall
• Maintenance: Low & easy
• Light Exposure: Full or Partial Sun
• USDA Zones: 4-9
• UK RHS Zones: H3-H6

4. Clematis ‘Viola’

Clematis ‘Viola’ is a hardy, moderately vigorous, deciduous climber, raised by a breeder in Estonia. It is a hybrid cross between C. ‘Lord Nevill’ and a pollen mixture. It is another free-flowering cultivar among purple clematis varieties.

From mid-summer to early fall, this plant produces deep bluish-purple flowers 10-14cm wide. Each of the flowers has five or six short and broad petals with gently carved margins. The stamens have greenish-white filaments and creamy-yellow anthers.

Regarding growing conditions, they are pretty adaptable. They grow well in most garden soil mixes and either full or partial sun. Also, they are very vigorous and can grow up to 10ft pretty easily.

• Other Name(s): Clematis ‘Kiviviol’
• Origin: Estonia
• Plant Group: Viticella
• Pruning Group: 3
• Plant Height: 8-10ft (2.5-3m)
• Flowering Season: Summer, Early Fall
• Maintenance: Low
• Light Exposure: Full & Partial Sun
• USDA Zones: 4-9
• UK RHS Zones: H3-H6

5. Clematis ‘Gipsy Queen’

Clematis ‘Gipsy Queen’ is yet another hardy and deciduous climber with a vigorous growth rate. It is a cross between C. patens & C. Jakmanii, two purple clematis varieties. This cultivar is raised by breeders belonging to England.

It produces single violet-purple flowers with a velvety finish from mid-summer to early autumn. They are composed of four to six smooth and broad petals with white filaments and dark red anthers. Since both of the parent varieties are purple, the difference in Gipsy Queen is subtle and often gets confused with C. jackmanii.

Unlike most other purple clematis varieties, Clematis ‘Gipsy Queen’ thrives in partial or dappled shade. However, they are not selective regarding soils and tolerate most garden soils.

Clematis ‘Gipsy Queen’ is also a winner of the prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit.

• Origin: England
• Plant Group: Large Flowered Clematis
• Pruning Group: 3
• Plant Height: 10-12ft (3-3.6m)
• Flowering Season: Summer, early Autumn
• Maintenance: Easy & Beginner-friendly
• Light Exposure: Partial Shade
• USDA Zones: 4-9
• UK RHS Zones: H3-H6

6. Clematis ‘Luther Burbank’

Clematis ‘Luther Burbank’ is a hardy and strong-growing deciduous climber with a high growth rate. It is one of the very few purple clematis varieties that can reach 13 ft in height.

It is a cross between C. Jackmanii and a pollen mixture of C. ‘Languginosa Candida’, C. texeniss, and C. montana. 

The blooming period of Clematis ‘Luther Burbank’ starts in early summer and lasts till early fall. During this timeframe, they produce a lot of single, violet-purple flowers that have 13-20cm in diameter. The star-shaped petals with white filaments and pale yellow anthers add charms.

Just like most other clematis varieties, this cultivar thrives in most garden soils and conditions. 

• Origin: Ukraine
• Plant Group: Large Flowered Clematis
• Pruning Group: 3
• Plant Height: 8-13ft (3-4m)
• Flowering Season: Summer
• Maintenance: Easy
• Light Exposure: Full & Partial Sun
• USDA Zones: 4-11
• UK RHS Zones: H1c-H6

7. Clematis ‘Kathleen Dunford’

Clematis ‘Kathleen Dunford’ is one of the short purple clematis varieties. This moderately-vigorous, deciduous climber can grow a maximum height of only 7ft (2m) which makes them a compact option for short fences and pergolas.

Kathleen Dunford blooms rosy purple flowers twice a year. In the first season (spring to early summer), they put out semi-double flowers on old woods while single flowers bloom in the second season (late summer to early fall).

The flowers are composed of broad overlapping petals that have pointed tips. As they mature, the petal tips turn darker. Also, the stamen has yellow filaments and dark red anthers.

This purple clematis vine was first found in a private garden in England. The exact origin of this variety is unknown and is expected to be a chance seedling. It is commercialized by Fisk’s Clematis Nursery of Suffolk, England, and is pretty much easily available online for purchase nowadays.

• Origin: England
• Plant Group: Large Flowered Clematis
• Pruning Group: 2
• Plant Height: 6-8ft (1.8-2.4m)
• Flowering Season: Spring, Summer, Early Fall
• Maintenance: Low
• Light Exposure: Full Sun & Partial Shade
• USDA Zones: 4-9
• UK RHS Zones: H3-H6

8. Clematis ‘Fireworks’

Another hardy, vigorous and deciduous climber, Clematis ‘Fireworks’ is a hybrid cross between C. ‘Maureen’ and C. ‘Nelly Moser.

Clematis ‘Fireworks’ is one of the very few purple clematis varieties that bloom twice a year. The first season starts from late spring to early summer, while the second season begins in the latter half of the summer, and the last flowering runs till early fall.

The large star-shaped flowers are comprised of six bright blueish-purple petals and creamy white filaments with dark red anthers at the top. Similar to its parent C. Nelly Moser, Fireworks also has a reddish pink central bar on all petals.

Just like most other purple clematis varieties, C. ‘Fireworks’  also thrives in most garden soils. However, they are quite reserved when it comes to light and thrives only when the roots are sheltered.

• Origin: England
• Plant Group: Large Flower Clematis
• Pruning Group: 2
• Plant Height: 8-10ft (2.5-3m)
• Flowering Season: Spring, Summer & Autumn
• Maintenance: Easy and beginner-friendly
• Light Exposure: Partial Sun
• USDA Zones: 4-8
• UK RHS Zones: H4-H6

9. Clematis ‘Aotearoa’

Clematis ‘Aotearoa’ is a hardy, vigorous climbing vine that produces a marvelous display of large violet-purple flowers during the summer season. The single flowers are composed of six overlapping petals and stamens with creamy yellowish-green filaments and anthers.

This purple clematis variety tolerates most of the garden soil but thrives in moist and well-drained soils with high organic content. Regarding light requirements, they do well in full sun or part shade.

It is not known from where this variety originates. However, they were commercialized by New Zealand Clematis Nurseries of Christchurch.

• Origin: New Zealand
• Pruning Group: 3
• Plant Height: 10-13ft (3-4m)
• Flowering Season: Mid-summer to late summer
• Maintenance: Low
• Light Exposure: Full Sun/Partial Sun
• USDA Zones: 3-11
• UK RHS Zones: 

10. Clematis ‘Etoile Violette’

Clematis ‘Etoile Violette’ is a recipient of the proud RHS Award of Garden Merit. The exact origin and parentage of this variety are not known, however, they were first raised by a breeder of Lyon in France.

It produces single, droopy flowers from mid to late summer. The flowers are composed of four to six dark purple petals with a velvety texture. The creamy yellow stamens add contrast to the petals.

When juvenile, the growth rate of this variety is slow. But when it gets adjusted to the conditions, they grow pretty vigorously. They do well in most garden soils and lighting conditions.

• Other Name(s): Clematis ‘Fantasy’, Clematis ‘Violet Star’
• Origin: France
• Plant Group: Viticella
• Pruning Group: 3
• Plant Height: 10-13ft (3-4m)
• Flowering Season: Mid-summer to late summer
• Maintenance: Low
• Light Exposure: Full & Partial Sun
• USDA Zones: 4-11
• UK RHS Zones: H1c-H6

Sources

To back up the information we provide in our articles, the Plantials team only uses high-quality sources published in peer-reviewed university or scientific research journals.

1. An Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Clematis, Book By Mary Toomey & Everett Leeds, British Clematis Society.
2. Encyclopedia of Plants & Flowers, A Book By The Royal Horticultural Society.