We will consider as winter-hardy clematis varieties those varieties that can winter confidently in USDA zone 4 and somewhat – in USDA zone 3. These are first of all princes (Atragene) and varieties from the Viticella group. They winter well without shelter at temperatures down to 29,2 °F, and sometimes even lower, and after severe frosts they easily restore the lost above-ground part.
Abundance
Abundance is a very old French variety of clematis with wine-red or purple-pink flowers. It is a high-growing and rather winter-hardy clematis with very abundant blooms.
- Pruning Group: 3 (Strong)
- Height: 8.2-13.1 feet (2.5-4 m)
- Flowers: Medium-sized, lilac-pink
- USDA Zone: 4-9
AVANT-GARDE
A very unusual variety of clematis from the Viticella group, obtained quite by accident. Flowers are small, but there are a lot of them. The variety is frost-resistant, unpretentious, quite resistant to wilting.
- Height: Up to 9.8 feet (3 m)
- Flowers: Small, with 4-6 red sepals and pink staminodes
- Blooming: From July to October
- USDA Zone: 4-9
Alba Luxurians
‘Alba Luxurians’ is a variety of clematis from the Viticella group with unusual white-green flowers. The green part may be very small, or it may occupy half of the sepal.
- Pruning group: 3 (strong pruning)
- Height: 8.2-9.8 ft (2.5-3 m)
- Flowers: Medium-sized, with 4 white curved tepals
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-9
Ai-Nor
Clematis “Ai-Nor” was bred by M.A. Beskaravayna in the 70s of the 20th century. The variety is characterized by long flowering, high winter hardiness, unpretentious and grows well in conditions even in northern Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. The flowers are quite large, very spectacular.
- Height: 2-2.5 meters
- Flowers: Flat, 10 to 12 cm in diameter, pale pink with yellow stamens
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Allanah
‘Allanah’ is a variety of New Zealand selection, by now one of the reddest on the Russian market. It winters well in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, but unfortunately does not bloom very abundantly.
- Height: 2-3 meters
- Flowers: Large, purple-red
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Albina Plena
Among clematis with white flowers, “Albina Plena” stands out for its winter hardiness, unpretentiousness and unusual appearance of sepals. It can be grown not only in Michigan, but even in the Dakotas.
- Height: up to 13.1 feet (up to 4 meters)
- Flowers: small, double, white in color
- Blooming Period: April-May
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Alionushka
‘Alyonushka’ – one of the most popular bush varieties of clematis. The variety is very winter-hardy, unpretentious and abundantly flowering, but the plants require support (although they do not cling). It grows and winters well in all U.S. states, as well as in Canada. In warmer countries it has no problems at all.
- Pruning Group: 3 (Heavy)
- Height: 4.9 feet to 6.6 feet (1.5-2 m)
- Flower Size: Approximately 2-2.4 inches (5-6 cm), bell-shaped
- Flower Color: Pinkish-lavender
- USDA Zone: 4-9
Albiflora
Albiflora is an old but rare variety of clematis alpine. It is very winter-hardy and unpretentious, and can grow against a northern wall or in a container. The flowers are characteristic for clematis alpine form, but completely white. The first bloom is abundant, the second bloom is modest but long-lasting.
- Height: up to 9.8 feet (up to 3 meters)
- Flowers: small, with long sepals, white in color
- Blooming Period: April-May, repeating in August until frost
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Anastasia Anisimova
Clematis ‘Anastasia Anisimova’ turned out to be very harmonious. Not very large white-blue flowers, modest flowering, general unpretentiousness and good wintering even in the northern states of the USA and the countries of Northern Europe
- Pruning Group: 3 (Heavy Pruning)
- Height: 4.9 feet to 6.6 feet (1.5-2 m)
- Flowers: Large, flat purple with a purplish stripe down the middle
- USDA Zone: 4-9
Anita
‘Anita’ is a variety of clematis obtained as a result of crossing Clemati tangutica and subspecies of Clematis potaninii. It is very similar to the usual Tangut clematis, but its flowers are white.
- Height: 6.6 to 16.4 feet (2-5 m)
- Flowers: Double, with a diameter of 1.2 to 1.6 inches (3-4 cm), white
- USDA Zone: 3-9
Anna German
“Anna Herman” (- a very popular variety with large terry flowers. It is characterized by high variability – the flowers can be different in shape and color. The variety is unpretentious, relatively stable, slowly builds up the root mass, but after the build-up blooms very abundantly.
- Pruning Group: 2 or 3
- Height: 2 to 2.5 meters
- Flowers: Large, up to 20 cm in diameter, with lavender petals and a yellow center
- Blooming Period: From June to September
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Arabella
Arabella is a wonderful variety of whole-leaved clematis with blue-purple flowers. Very fast-growing, healthy, winter-hardy variety with long flowering.
- Group: Integrifolia
- Height: 4.9 to 6.6 feet (1.5-2 meters)
- Flower Size: About 2 to 2.4 inches (5-6 cm), flat
- Flower Color: Blue-violet
- Blooming Period: June-September
- USDA Zone: 4-9
Aureolin
‘Aureolin’ is a variety of Clematis tangutica, very similar to the original species form. It is winter-hardy, has abundant long blooming, grows very quickly, but its shoots are so long that it makes sense to plant it only near fences.
- Height: 13.1–16.4 feet (4–5 meters)
- Flower Size: Small with 4 tepals, yellow
- USDA Zone: 4-9
Ashva
‘Ashva’ is a variety of Baltic selection with large purple-purple flowers. It is quite winter-hardy and therefore perfectly suitable for the Moscow region and even more northern regions.
- Height: 4.9–6.6 feet (1.5–2 meters)
- Flowers: Large, flat, violet with a purple stripe down the middle
- USDA Zone: 4-9
Azure Ball
‘Azure Ball’ is a brand new variety of clematis with large terry light blue flowers. Unfortunately, the shade of blue is not as intense as that of forget-me-nots, but it is still very beautiful.
- Pruning Group: 2 (Light Pruning)
- Height: Up to 6.6 feet (approximately 2 meters)
- Flowers: Large, 5.9 to 6.7 inches in diameter (approximately 15 to 17 cm), semi-double or double, lilac-blue in color
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Ballet Skirt
An exceptionally winter-hardy and decorative variety of petal clematis with pink semi-marginal flowers. Perfectly winters and blooms even in North Dakota conditions.
- Pruning Group: 1
- Height: 6.6…8.2 feet (2…2.5 meters)
- Flowers: small, semi-double, pink in color
- Blooming Period: April-May
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Baltyk
‘Baltic’ is a wonderful variety of clematis of Polish selection with large purple flowers. It burns out a little in the sun, but otherwise it is very good.
- Height: 2 to 2.5 meters
- Flowers: Large, with 8 violet tepals
- Blooming Period: From May to June and again in August
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Blue Surprise
This is a brand new variety of clematis, judging by the photo – absolutely stunning. It is winter hardy and the flowers are relatively small. One of several varieties in the Surprise series.
- Pruning Group: 1 (no pruning)
- Height: up to 9.8 feet (up to 3 meters)
- Flowers: medium-sized, up to 2.8 inches (up to 7 cm) in diameter, semi-double, lavender-blue in color
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Black Prince
‘Black Prince’ is a variety of clematis of the Viticella group. It is undemanding, winter-hardy, with unusual, very dark flowers. It is not very common.
- Height: 9.8–13.1 feet (3–4 meters)
- Flowers: Medium-sized, with 4 sepals
- Flower Color: Dark violet
- USDA Zone: 4-9
Cecile
Clematis Cecile is an early-flowering, very frost-resistant and unpretentious variety with semi-marginal flowers. Undeservedly rare in the USA, it is an excellent clematis for the northern states. Blooms usually in April-May, with good care is very abundant. It is also suitable for planting against the north wall, even in states with cold winters.
- Height: 6.6-9.8 feet (2-3m)
- Flowers: Semi-double, 1.97-2.36 inches in diameter, with violet-blue sepals and light-green stamens (5-6 cm)
- USDA Zone: 3-9
Copernicus
“Copernicus” is a new Polish variety of clematis. It differs from many other varieties with purple flowers by two things: the combination of the third pruning group with terry flowers and the short length of the stems.
- Pruning Group – 3
- Height – 4.9-6.6 feet (1.5-2 meters)
- Flowers – Flat, up to 4.7 inches (12 cm) in diameter, semi-double, lilac-colored
- Blooming Period – from June to September
- USDA Hardiness Zones – 4-9
Danuta
Clematis ‘Danuta’ is abundantly flowering, non-holiness and winter-hardy. Very similar to ‘Comtesse de Bouchaud’, but blooms on shoots of the current year.
- Height: 6.6-11.5 feet (2-3.5 meters)
- Flowers: Large, flat with 6 sepals
- Flower Color: Pink
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Dorothy Walton
An excellent clematis with an interesting sepal shape. The color of sepals is not always rich, but it looks interesting in combination with white clematis or roses.
- Group: Late-Flowering Large-Flowered Clematis
- Pruning Group: 3 (hard pruning)
- Height: 3 to 4 meters (approximately 9.8 to 13.1 feet)
- Flower Description: Simple flowers with 6 to 8 tepals, approximately 10 to 15 cm in diameter, lilac to violet in color
- Blooming Period: July to September
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Diana
Diana is an unpretentious winter-hardy variety of Estonian selection. It is cut short, blooms only on the shoots of the current year, starting in July. A good choice for Michigan and other northern US states, as well as northern European countries.
- Group: Late-flowering large-flowered clematis
- Height: 2 to 2.5 meters (approximately 6.6 to 8.2 feet)
- Flower Size: Up to 22 cm in diameter
- Blooming Period: July to September
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Gipsy Queen
‘Gipsy Queen’ is an old but hardy, abundant-flowering clematis variety with rather late blooming. If you have a warm autumn in your region, it can bloom throughout September and sometimes even into October.
- Height: 3 to 4 meters (approximately 9.8 to 13.1 feet)
- Flowers: Large, up to 16 cm in diameter, with violet sepals
- Blooming Period: From July to October
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Gisela
There are two varieties with very similar names – Gisela and Gizela. This variety with the letter “S” is a relatively new variety of German selection with small shoots and purple flowers.
- Pruning Group: 2
- Height: 1 to 1.5 meters
- Flowers: Large, up to 12 cm in diameter, with purple tepals and lavender stamens
- Blooming Period: June to August
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Gravetye Beauty
‘Gravitye Beauty’ is a variety of clematis of the Texensis group, characterized by the rich red color of the sepals, which is quite rare in clematis. It is quite cold hardy and thanks to its short pruning it winters well in the simplest shelters.
- Height: 6.6-13.1 feet (2-4 meters)
- Flowers: Medium-sized, up to 3.5 inches (9 cm) in diameter, with dark-red sepals
- Blooming Period: From July to the end of August
- USDA Zone: 5-9
Guernsey Cream
Very expressive white flowers with minimal green-cream tint. Blooms abundantly in late May and repeatedly, with single flowers – in August. Overwinters well in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
- Height: 2 to 3 meters
- Flowers: Large, with 6-8 tepals, greenish-white in color
- Blooming Period: May-June, repeat bloom in August
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Hagley Hybrid
‘Hagley Hybrid’ is winter hardy, blooms on the shoots of the current year and therefore quite popular in the U.S., although in recent years it has been slightly crowded out by new varieties.
- Pruning Group: 3 (hard pruning)
- Height: 8.2 to 9.8 feet (2.5 to 3 meters)
- Flower Size: About 3.9 to 5.9 inches (10 to 15 cm), flat flowers with 6 sepals
- Flower Color: Pink-lilac
- Blooming Period: August to October
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Izydor
Pretty white clematis of the second pruning group, quite rare. Looks great paired with red roses or clematis, but grows very large.
- Height: 3 to 4 meters
- Flowers: Simple, up to 18 cm in diameter, white
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Jackmanii
Clematis ‘Jackmani’ is a very old and very popular variety that winters well in almost all regions of the United States and produces very abundant blooms.
- Height: 9.8-13.1 feet (3-4 meters)
- Flowers: Large, up to 5.9 inches (15 cm) in diameter, with 4-6 violet sepals
- Blooming Period: From July to October
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Jerzy Popiełuszko
Clematis ‘Jerzy Popelushko’ differs from most large-flowered clematis by the exceptional compactness of the bush and long flowering. The shoots of this clematis rarely grow more than 150 cm, and it blooms from May to October with a short break.
- Pruning Group: 2 (light pruning)
- Height: 1 to 1.5 meters
- Flowers: Large, up to 15 cm in size, with 6-8 white sepals
- Blooming Period: From May to October
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Kardynal Wyszynski
‘Kardynal Vyshinsky’ – quite winter-hardy large-flowered variety of clematis with purplish-pink flowers that can burn out in bright sun. It is a good choice for Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota
- Pruning Group: 3 (hard pruning)
- Height: 2.5 to 3 meters (approximately 8.2 to 9.8 feet)
- Flower Description: Large flowers, 14 to 20 cm in diameter, simple, in a purplish-pink color
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Niobe
‘Niobe’ is a variety of clematis with flowers of a rather rare dark red shade. It is unpretentious and quite winter-hardy, can be cut short according to the rules of group 3.
- Pruning Group: 2 (light pruning)
- Height – up to 9.84 feet (3 m)
- Flowers – large, with a diameter of 5.91…6.69 inches (15…17 cm), simple, with 4-8 sepals, dark red
- USDA Hardiness Zone – 4-9
Piilu
‘Piilu’ – is a stunning clematis created in Estonia. Double and single flowers can appear in early summer at the same time. It is quite resistant to winter cold.
- Pruning group: 2 (light prune)
- Height: 5-7 feet (1.5-2 meters)
- Flowers: double, semi-double, single up to 2.5″-5″ (6-12` cm) in diameter, pink
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Pink Swing
Pink Swing is a rare beauty clematis with terry pink flowers, very winter-hardy, does not require pruning. The variety is not very widespread yet, but it is quite realistic to buy it in the USA.
- Pruning Group: 1 (no pruning)
- Height: Up to 9.8 feet (3 meters)
- Flowers: Medium to large size, up to 4.72 inches in diameter, double, in delicate pink or yellowish-pink shades (up to 12 cm)
- USDA Zone: 3-9
The President
The most popular variety of clematis. Very stable, very winter-hardy, well growing and abundant blooms. The best choice of a beginner clematis grower.
- Height – 6.56…13.12 feet (2…4 m)
- Flowers – large, with a diameter of 5.12…7.87 inches (13…20 cm), double or semi-double, blue-violet
- USDA Hardiness Zone – 4-9
Romantica
Romantica is a rather old variety of Estonian breeder Uno Kivistica. Excellent clematis, winter-hardy, unpretentious, easy to grow, with expressive dark flowers, which are sometimes almost black.
- Pruning Group – 3
- Height – 8.2-9.8 feet (2.5-3 meters)
- Flowers – Medium and large, up to 5.9 inches (15 cm) in diameter, with dark purple sepals
- Blooming Period – from July until the first frost
- USDA Hardiness Zones – 4-9
Rouge Cardinal
‘Rouge Cardinal’ is one of the most popular clematis varieties in USA. It is a variety of the third pruning group, relatively winter-hardy, but poorly tolerant of overflow. At first it grows slowly, but after a couple of years after planting, it starts to gain mass very intensively.
- Height – up to 9.8 feet (3 meters)
- Flowers – large, 3.9 to 5.9 inches (10 to 15 cm) in diameter, dark red
- Blooming Period – from July to September
- USDA Hardiness Zones – 4-9
Purpurea Plena Elegans
An old French variety of the clematis from pruning group 3, very hardy and abundantly flowering.
- Pruning Group: 3;
- Height: up to 13 feet (4 meters);
- Flowers: medium-sized, double, raspberry-purple colored;
- Blooming: from July until the frosts;
- Frost Resistance Zones: 4-9;
Sinee Plamya (Blue Flame)
‘Sinee Plamya’ is an excellent variety of Soviet selection, winter-hardy, easy to grow with sometimes interesting coloring of flowers, but quite rare. Most often it is bought from collectors.
- Pruning Group – 3
- Height – 9.8-13.1 feet (3-4 meters)
- Flowers – Large, up to 5.9 inches (15 cm) in diameter, with dark purple, almost blue sepals
- Blooming Period – from July to September
- USDA Hardiness Zones – 4-9
Utopia
‘Utopia’ is a variety of Japanese selection, despite its origin rather winter-hardy. Very variable color of flowers, long summer blooming.
- Group: Late-flowering large-flowered clematis
- Pruning Group: 3 (hard pruning)
- Height – 8.2 to 9.8 feet (2.5 to 3 meters)
- Flowers – up to 5.9 inches (15 cm) in diameter, simple, with 6 sepals
- Flower Color – ranging from white to lilac
- Blooming Period: June-July, with a second bloom in August
- USDA Hardiness Zones – 5-9
Warsaw Nike
Clematis ‘Warsaw Nike’ is one of the most interesting clematis varieties of Polish selection. It is unpretentious, abundantly blooming, with very impressive flowers of dark red shade.
- Pruning Group: 2 (light prune)
- Height: 7-10 feet (2-3 m)
- Flowers: single, large, about 4″=5,5″ (10-15 cm), deep-red-purple
- USDA Zone: 4-9
About the author
Fedor Fironov
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