About

Clematis 'Betty Corning' is a medium-sized deciduous vine featuring mid-green foliage made up of three leaflets each. It produces bell-shaped flowers with pale pinkish-blue tepals that are subtly fragrant, measuring 5-6.5 cm in diameter. The tepals display deep veining and have lilac-pink coloration on the interior, along with recurved tips and prominent yellow anthers.

About the genus

Clematis includes a variety of plants, ranging from deciduous and evergreen shrubs to herbaceous perennials. Many of these species are climbers, utilizing twining leaf stalks for support, and they frequently produce prominent flowers. In the fall, certain varieties develop appealing fluffy seed heads.

Growing conditions

Sunlight

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil type

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Soil pH

Alkaline, Neutral

Soil moisture

Moist but well-drained

Aspect

East-facing, South-facing, North-facing, West-facing

Exposure

Exposed, Sheltered

UK hardiness

H6

Plant details

Plant type

Climber Wall Shrub

Habit

Climbing

Foliage

Deciduous

Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Spread

0.5-1 metres

Time to full height

2-5 years

Fragrance

Flower

Toxicity

Skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets (rabbits): Harmful if eaten. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants

Care notes

Cultivation

Plant in a moisture-retentive, well-drained soil, with the roots and base of the plant kept cool and shaded by other plants or a layer of pebbles at the base. Plant with the crown 5-8cm (2-3in) deep to encourage new shoots to grow from below ground level. See clematis cultivation for more advice

Pruning

Clematis pruning: group three

Propagation

Propagate by layering or semi-hardwood cuttings

Pest resistance

May be susceptible to aphids and caterpillars on young growth; petals can be eaten by earwigs

Disease resistance

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), clematis wilt and clematis slime flux