Clematis, Early Large-flowered Clematis 'The President'

Blackened crispy leaves are often due to a common fungal disease called clematis wilt. Large-flowered clematis are more prone to clematis...Read More wilt than the species and small-flowered hybrids. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/you...

Clematis and tomatoes are two exceptions to the usual rule, and are best planted 6 inches deeper than the soil level in the pot. This protects the stem bases from mechanical damage, and helps prevent clematis wilt, whose fungus enters where there's damage. It also helps keep the roots cool.

Many small-flowered hybrids are spectacular in flower, and long-blooming. I consider them indispensable, especially the viticella hybrids. I've given up planting large-flowered hybrids, except for 'Jackmannii', which seems to be somewhat wilt resistant.

Awesome 7" violet, almost blue blooms with 8 petals pointed at the tips. The petals have a faint silvery center stripe laid on top of the...Read More viotet color, giving it a fascinating metallic finish.

I have had this plant for 3 seasons and I love it. I have trained it to grow up a fence which faces east. Currently have 21 open flowers, and 32 unopened buds as of 4/27.

When I fertilize my roses (Rose Tone), I usually throw some at the base of The President also.

This is the only large-flowered clematis I've had success with in my years of trying to grow them here in North Texas. It must be in the...Read More right spot -- the roots receive no direct sunlight and the foliage only receives morning sun. It grows wonderfully amongst my 'Kathleen' climbing rose!

Received The Royal Horticultural Society, Award of Garden Merit (AGM) in 1993.