Clematis 'Ville de Lyon'

Sun

Full sun to partial shade. Afternoon shade helps flowers retain their colour in hot climates; keep the root area cool.

Water

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

Soil

Fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. Tolerates slightly acidic, neutral and alkaline conditions.

Height

8-12 ft (2.4-3.7 m)

Spread

3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m)

Flowers

Summer to early autumn; large carmine-red flowers, often with darker crimson margins and creamy-yellow stamens. Flowers may fade in strong sun.

Foliage

Green, divided leaves on slender climbing stems; leaf stalks curl around narrow supports. Deciduous.

Growth

Moderate to fast once established

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Cold hardy
• 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

• Plant with the crown about 2-3 in (5-8 cm) below soil level in well-drained ground.
• Provide trellis, wires or mesh with thin supports that the leaf stalks can grip; tie in young shoots loosely.
• Water deeply when the soil begins to dry, rather than giving frequent light sprinklings.
• Apply compost and a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring, following the product label.
• Mulch the root area to conserve moisture, keeping mulch away from the stems.

Pruning. Pruning group 3: in late winter or early spring, cut all stems back to a pair of strong buds about 12-18 in (30-45 cm) above ground. Tie in the new shoots as they grow.

Late winter

Cut back last year's stems to strong low buds and remove dead growth.

Spring

Apply compost, fertiliser and mulch; check that supports are secure.

Late spring

Guide young shoots onto supports and protect soft growth from slugs and snails.

Summer

Water during dry weather and tie in stems before they become tangled.

Early autumn

Continue watering while flowering; leave healthy stems until the main late-winter pruning.

Late autumn

Remove fallen diseased leaves and check drainage around the crown.

• Train over an arch or narrow pergola for summer colour at eye level.
• Grow through an established climbing rose to extend the flowering season.
• Cover a trellis against a fence, leaving space for air circulation and watering.
• Let it climb through a sturdy spring-flowering shrub for a second season of interest.
• Grow in a large, deep container with a firm trellis and reliable watering.

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

Plant it with: Climbing roses, Shrub roses, Hardy geraniums, Catmint, Lady's mantle and Mock orange.

Wildlife: Bees and other insects may visit the flowers for pollen, though this large-flowered cultivar is not a particularly rich nectar source. Dense growth can provide shelter for small garden animals.

• Clematis wilt can cause sudden collapse of individual stems: cut affected stems back to healthy tissue or ground level, remove debris and avoid damaging the stem bases. Established plants may regrow from below ground.
• Slugs and snails eat emerging shoots: inspect young growth regularly and use barriers, hand-picking or labelled iron-phosphate bait where needed.
• Powdery mildew appears as white patches on leaves: improve airflow, keep roots evenly moist and remove badly affected foliage.
• Poor flowering can follow shade, drought or excessive nitrogen feeding: give the upper growth more light, water consistently and avoid heavy lawn-fertiliser runoff.

Toxic to people, cats, dogs and horses if eaten. All parts contain irritant compounds, especially in fresh sap, and chewing can cause mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting or diarrhoea. Serious poisoning is uncommon, but seek medical or veterinary advice after ingestion; sap can also irritate skin.

• Clematis 'Ernest Markham' (Clematis 'Ernest Markham')

  Usually has more uniformly coloured magenta-red flowers; 'Ville de Lyon' typically shows a stronger contrast between lighter centres and darker margins. Flower colour varies with light and age.

• Clematis 'Niobe' (Clematis 'Niobe')

  Has much darker, velvety ruby-red flowers, often nearly black-red when first open, and commonly begins flowering earlier than 'Ville de Lyon'.

Clematis comes from the Greek klema, meaning a vine shoot, while 'Ville de Lyon' means 'City of Lyon' in French.

Propagation. Take softwood cuttings in late spring or early summer, or layer a low stem into a nearby pot of compost. Seed will not reliably produce plants identical to this cultivar.

Accepted botanical name

Clematis

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