Plant Files: Clematis ‘Kardynal Wyszynski’

I always say one can never have too many clematis in the garden. I barely have any, but I hope to rectify that this spring. Here’s a pretty clematis which may make the list, ‘Kardynal Wyszynski’ named for the Polish prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. I think this clematis is a good example of why it’s sometimes so important (although not always feasible, I know) to see your plants in person before purchasing. This clematis is described as being one of the red ones, crimson to be exact, but am I crazy or does this look more purple to you? Granted, these photos were taken in the last light of day which laws of physics and our own biology taken into account tend to make colors appear more bluish than they do mid-afternoon. Well, however you might describe this color, it sure is a fine one. I love how the Arboretum (where these photos were taken) attached fine mesh netting to the iron tutuers to give the curling leaf tendrils of the clematis someplace to grasp. I think I’ll try that in our garden. Do you grow ‘Kardynal Wyszynski’? I’d love to hear your take on it’s growth habits and of course it’s color!

Edit: Here’s another clematis whose color might be disputed but it still quite lovely, and it gives you a better view of those marvelous tutuers.