Clematis 'Princess Diana'

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; flowers best with several hours of direct sun. In hot climates, give afternoon shade and keep the root area cool.

Water

Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water deeply during dry spells, especially while establishing and when growing in a container.

Soil

Fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil; tolerates slightly acidic to alkaline conditions.

Height

6-10 ft (1.8-3 m)

Spread

3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m)

Flowers

Summer to early autumn; upright, tulip-shaped flowers with rich pink tepals and paler edges.

Foliage

Deciduous green leaves, usually divided into leaflets; leaf stalks curl around slender supports.

Growth

Moderate to fast once established

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   2 ft (0.6 m)

2. After 1 year

   3 ft (0.98 m)

3. After 2 years

   4 ft (1.4 m)

4. After 3 years

   6 ft (1.7 m)

5. After 5 years

   6 ft (1.8 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Growth rate

Fast

• Provide a trellis, wires or an obelisk with slender sections that the leaf stalks can grip.
• Water deeply during dry weather rather than giving frequent light sprinklings.
• Mulch the root area with compost or well-rotted organic matter, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Apply a balanced fertiliser in spring according to the label; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.
• Guide and loosely tie young shoots to their support before they become tangled.

Pruning. Pruning group 3: in late winter or early spring, cut all stems back to strong buds about 6-12 in (15-30 cm) above the ground. Remove dead stems and retain several healthy shoots to rebuild the framework each season.

Late winter

Cut stems back hard to healthy buds and check that the support is secure.

Spring

Apply balanced fertiliser and renew the organic mulch.

Late spring

Guide new shoots onto the support and protect tender growth from slugs and snails.

Summer

Water during dry spells and tie in wandering shoots without constricting them.

Early autumn

Continue watering if conditions are dry while flowering finishes.

Late autumn

Clear fallen diseased foliage; leave healthy stems for the main late-winter pruning.

• Train over a narrow obelisk in a mixed border to add height without a large woody framework.
• Let it climb through an open shrub that finishes flowering before summer.
• Pair with a climbing rose on a trellis for contrasting flower shapes and an extended display.
• Grow in a large container beside a sunny patio, with a sturdy support and reliable watering.

Garden styles it suits: English country, Cottage garden, Romantic rose garden, Modern courtyard, Small-space and Traditional.

Plant it with: Climbing roses, Catmint, Hardy geraniums, Lady's mantle, Salvias and Peonies.

Wildlife: Flowers may be visited by bees, though they are not as accessible as open-flowered clematis. Established growth provides some cover for small garden animals.

• Slugs and snails can destroy emerging shoots; check young growth regularly and use barriers or locally approved controls.
• Powdery mildew may appear in dry, crowded conditions; maintain soil moisture, improve airflow and remove badly affected leaves.
• Sudden stem collapse can result from wilt or stem damage; cut affected stems back to healthy tissue or ground level, clean tools and protect replacement shoots.
• Poor flowering often follows heavy shade, drought or excessive nitrogen feeding; improve light, water consistently and use a balanced fertiliser.

All parts are toxic if chewed or eaten by people, cats, dogs and horses. Fresh sap can irritate skin, and ingestion can cause mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting or diarrhoea; serious poisoning is uncommon, but seek medical or veterinary advice after ingestion. Wear gloves when pruning if your skin is sensitive.

• Clematis 'Duchess of Albany' (Clematis 'Duchess of Albany')

  Also has tulip-shaped flowers, but they are generally paler pink with conspicuous darker pink central bars and more outward-curving tips.

• Clematis 'Gravetye Beauty' (Clematis 'Gravetye Beauty')

  Its similarly shaped flowers are deep crimson-red rather than the rich pink of 'Princess Diana'.

• Scarlet clematis (Clematis texensis)

  The species usually has smaller, thicker-textured scarlet flowers with a more closed, urn-like shape.

The cultivar was named in honour of Diana, Princess of Wales; Clematis comes from the Greek word for a climbing or vine-like plant.

Propagation. Take softwood or semi-ripe cuttings from healthy non-flowering shoots in late spring or summer, or layer a low stem. Seedlings will not reliably match 'Princess Diana'.

Accepted botanical name

Clematis

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.