Types of clematis can add breathtaking vertical interest to any garden, from cottage-style borders to sleek modern trellises. With hundreds of cultivars available, choosing the right one might feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re planting in containers, training vines up a pergola, or creating a pollinator-friendly space, there’s a clematis to suit every style and climate.

In this guide, you’ll discover 12 standout varieties known for their color, form, and reliability. Each one offers something unique—from early blooms to intense fragrance—and all have proven to be garden-worthy performers. If you’re looking to elevate your landscape with bold blooms and long flowering seasons, these top picks are worth serious consideration.

Table of Contents

1. Rosemoor Clematis

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Rosemoor Clematis (Clematis ‘Evipo002’) is a standout variety from renowned breeder Raymond Evison. It’s prized for its incredibly long blooming period—from late spring through early fall—making it a top choice for gardeners seeking extended color.

This variety features bold, reddish-purple flowers that span 5 to 6 inches across. Each bloom is accented with bright yellow stamens that create striking contrast. Rosemoor Clematis flowers on both old and new wood, which means you get more blooms throughout the season with minimal pruning.

Growing Tips:

• Prefers rich, alkaline soil
• Needs sun on its top and shade for the roots—use mulch or low-growing ground cover
• Prune lightly after flowering to remove weak or dead stems

Its disease resistance, dependable growth habit, and stunning display make Rosemoor one of the most reliable types of clematis for home gardens.

2. Rebecca Clematis

Rebecca Clematis (Clematis ‘Evipo016’) is a show-stopping variety known for its vivid scarlet-red petals and creamy yellow anthers. Bred by Raymond Evison and named after his daughter, this clematis delivers garden drama with every bloom.

Flowering from May through June, and again in late summer, Rebecca is a free-flowering type that thrives on trellises, fences, or even sprawling over shrubs and stumps. Each bloom can reach up to 6 inches in diameter and remains intensely colorful, even in partial shade—making it an ideal pick for spots that don’t get full sun all day.

Growing Tips:

• Requires a support structure for climbing
• Does best in well-drained, alkaline soil
• Prune in early spring to encourage new growth

If you’re drawn to bold colors and reliable blooming, Rebecca is one of the most stunning types of clematis to feature in your landscape.

3. Bijou Clematis

Bijou Clematis (Clematis ‘Evipo030’) is a compact, patio-perfect variety that proves you don’t need height to make a big statement. Unlike traditional climbing clematis, Bijou grows as a low mound or trailing groundcover, reaching just 12 to 18 inches tall—ideal for containers, borders, or even hanging baskets.

What it lacks in size, it makes up for in flower power. Bijou produces lavish amethyst-purple blooms with silvery-white reverses and delicate pink-tipped anthers. These ruffled, star-shaped flowers appear in late spring, with a second flush in early fall.

Growing Tips:

• Excellent for small-space gardens or balconies
• Grows well in full sun or partial shade
• Pruning Group 2: prune lightly after the first flush of flowers

For gardeners working with limited space, Bijou is a top pick among types of clematis—bringing full-sized blooms in a compact, low-maintenance package.

4. Clematis Fireworks

Clematis Fireworks lives up to its name with vibrant 8-inch blooms that burst in shades of bluish-purple, accented by vivid cerise central bars. Each petal twists slightly, creating a dynamic look that draws the eye—even from a distance.

This variety begins its floral display in late spring, with a second bloom in late summer, albeit with slightly smaller flowers. Its vigorous growth makes it a strong choice for vertical features like trellises, arbors, or even climbing over fences.

Growing Tips:

• Needs a sheltered spot to protect large blooms from wind
• Prefers alkaline, well-draining soil
• Prune after the first flowering to maintain shape and encourage reblooming

Clematis Fireworks is one of the boldest types of clematis, perfect for gardeners who want dramatic color and a plant that makes a grand entrance—twice a year.

5. Roguchi Clematis

Roguchi Clematis (Clematis ‘Roguchi’) stands apart from typical varieties with its charming bell-shaped blooms and deep violet-blue coloring. Each flower hangs delicately, with gently recurved tips and a sweet fragrance that adds to its appeal.

Unlike traditional clematis, Roguchi is a non-clinging weaver—it doesn’t require a trellis but prefers to sprawl among companion plants or over low supports. It blooms continuously from early summer through fall, offering long-lasting color in a unique form.

Growing Tips:

• Ideal for naturalistic gardens or cottage borders
• Best in full sun with shaded roots—use mulch or low groundcovers
• Prune lightly in early spring above new buds

If you’re seeking an unconventional look in your clematis collection, Roguchi is one of the best types of clematis for a whimsical and relaxed garden aesthetic.

6. Sapphire Indigo™ Clematis

Sapphire Indigo™ Clematis (Clematis ‘Cleminov 51’) is a bush-type clematis that offers incredible versatility. Whether used as a groundcover, container specimen, or low climber, this variety earns its keep with a profusion of deep indigo-blue blooms that fade beautifully to purple as they age.

Blooming from early summer through fall, Sapphire Indigo™ is celebrated for its continuous flowering habit and compact, shrubby form—perfect for smaller gardens or urban patios.

Each 4- to 5-inch flower is accented by slender, wavy-edged sepals and a subtle stamen cluster that enhances the elegant color palette. It attracts butterflies and pollinators, making it a functional and beautiful garden choice.

Growing Tips:

• Tolerates extreme weather, both heat and cold
• Performs well in containers, as a groundcover, or on short supports
• Minimal pruning required—just a light trim to shape in early spring

Among the many types of clematis, Sapphire Indigo™ shines for gardeners who crave bold color, long bloom time, and effortless style in a compact form.

7. Guernsey Cream Clematis

Guernsey Cream Clematis (Clematis ‘Guernsey Cream’) brings an air of sophistication to the garden with its creamy-white blooms that open from soft yellow buds. These large, rounded flowers—each measuring 5 to 6 inches—are subtly accented with pale green bars and a bold yellow stamen cluster.

This variety blooms twice a year—first in late spring, then again in late summer after light deadheading. Its tidy habit and showy floral display make it an excellent choice for smaller trellises, garden obelisks, or even container gardens.

Growing Tips:

• Requires a support structure for climbing
• Extremely hardy and tolerant of both heat and cold
• Best performance when roots are kept cool and shaded

If you’re aiming for a calm, elegant planting scheme, Guernsey Cream is one of the most refined types of clematis you can grow. Its subtle color and repeat flowering make it a quiet star in any garden design.

8. Pink Anemone Clematis

Pink Anemone Clematis (Clematis montana var. rubens) is a vigorous climber that blankets fences, trellises, and arbors with a cascade of soft pink flowers each spring. The blossoms—shaped like anemones—appear in clusters along the vine, often so densely packed that they nearly obscure the foliage.

This variety is not just a visual delight; it’s fragranced with sweet vanilla, adding a sensory layer to your garden experience. The early blooms emerge in late spring to early summer, with the vine’s burgundy-tinged foliage turning a bronze-green as the season progresses.

Growing Tips:

• Best suited for large spaces or tall structures
• Prefers part sun to full sun with well-drained soil
• Very low maintenance—prune after flowering if needed

Pink Anemone Clematis is one of the most charming and fragrant types of clematis, ideal for gardeners who appreciate both beauty and scent in their landscape.

9. Warsaw Nike Clematis

Warsaw Nike Clematis (Clematis ‘Warszawska Nike’) is a rich, velvety beauty known for its deep purple-red blooms that measure up to 5 inches across. Each petal has a soft ruffle and slightly curled edges, offset by a striking contrast of golden-yellow stamens.

This clematis is celebrated for its shade tolerance—thriving even in areas where other varieties struggle. It begins flowering in early summer and can bloom again later in the season with proper care and light pruning.

Growing Tips:

• Ideal for north-facing walls or dappled light gardens
• Grows well in average, well-draining soil
• Prune lightly in early spring to promote healthy growth

If your garden has more shade than sun, Warsaw Nike is among the most reliable types of clematis to bring vibrant color to low-light areas without sacrificing bloom quality.

10. Blue Angel Clematis

Blue Angel Clematis (Clematis ‘Blekitny Aniol’) lives up to its ethereal name with soft sky-blue flowers that appear to glow in the garden. These 6-inch blooms have gently ruffled edges and fade toward the center, creating a delicate watercolor effect. A cluster of bright yellow stamens adds cheerful contrast.

This variety is a prolific bloomer, covering its vines in waves of flowers from late spring through midsummer. With a bit of pruning, it often reblooms again in early fall, making it a reliable source of color for much of the growing season.

Growing Tips:

• Thrives in full sun, but tolerates partial shade
• Benefits from mulch to keep roots cool
• Prune lightly after first bloom to encourage a second flush

Among the softer types of clematis, Blue Angel stands out for its gentle beauty and garden versatility—perfect for climbing over pergolas or trailing along fences.

11. Hyde Hall Clematis

Hyde Hall Clematis (Clematis ‘Evipo009’) brings understated elegance to patios, trellises, and garden walls with its large, creamy-white blooms that can reach up to 7 inches across. These symmetrical flowers may start with a faint blush of pink down the center bar but mature into a pristine alabaster tone, giving them a timeless, refined look.

This variety blooms on old wood in late spring to early summer, often producing both single and semi-double blooms on the same plant. A rich chocolate-brown stamen center adds contrast and depth, creating visual interest even in a monochrome palette.

Growing Tips:

• Compact enough for containers or small trellises
• Needs minimal pruning—only remove dead or weak stems after flowering
• Plant in sun with cool, shaded roots

Hyde Hall is one of the most graceful types of clematis available, offering long-lasting beauty in both formal and informal garden settings.

12. Sweet Summer Love Clematis

Sweet Summer Love Clematis (Clematis ‘Sweet Summer Love’) is a showy, fragrant vine that delivers an incredible display of deep red to purple blooms—often numbering in the thousands across a single plant. Starting in July and continuing through mid-September, this clematis brings intense color and a sweet, fruity scent to the garden when many others are fading.

The flowers are smaller, about 1 to 2 inches across, but what they lack in size they more than make up for in sheer volume. With sturdy stems and high disease resistance, Sweet Summer Love is both tough and stunning—perfect for fences, arbors, and pergolas.

Growing Tips:

• Fast-growing; reaches up to 10–12 feet tall
• Adaptable to many soil types; thrives in sun or partial shade
• Pruning Group 3: prune hard in late winter or early spring

For gardeners who want long-lasting blooms, fragrance, and pollinator appeal, Sweet Summer Love is one of the most rewarding types of clematis to grow.

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Conclusion

With so many stunning types of clematis to choose from, there’s truly a variety for every garden style, space, and skill level. Whether you’re drawn to the rich hues of Warsaw Nike, the compact charm of Bijou, or the fragrance of Sweet Summer Love, clematis vines offer an unbeatable combination of beauty, versatility, and seasonal impact.

Most clematis thrive with the same basic care: sun on their tops, cool roots, and well-drained soil. By selecting a mix of early, mid-season, and late bloomers, you can enjoy colorful displays from spring through fall.

No matter which varieties you choose, these plants will add vertical interest, attract pollinators, and turn everyday garden structures into floral focal points.

Looking to expand your garden? Pair clematis with climbing roses or plant them near lavender, coneflowers, or hostas to enhance texture and seasonal layering.

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