With 300 natural species and so many more hybrids and cultivars that we cannot even count them, it is useful to divide clematis varieties into groups. There are many ways of categorizing this flowering vine, according to the size of the flower, the shape, and other ways. However, the most useful is by flowering time

1: ‘Jan Lindmark’ Atragene Clematis (Clematis macropetala ‘Jan Lindmark’)

‘Jan Lindmark’ is an early-blooming clematis variety that will blossom together with daffodils and tulips, starting in mid-spring and stopping as soon as summer comes. It has a very wild but exotic look…

2: ‘Pamela Jackman’ Atragene Clematis (Clematis alpina ‘Pamela Jackman’)

‘Pamela Jackman’ is an early flowering variety of clematis with a twist… Maybe you will not notice it at first, as you will be fascinated by how the long and pointed buds open in spring to reveal deep violet-blue petals that stretch until they form lovely nodding cups that dance in the breeze…

3: ‘Apple Blossom’ Evergreen Clematis (Clematis armandii ‘Apple Blossom’)

This variety of early blooming clematis is aptly named indeed: ‘Apple Blossom.’ This is not just because it flowers together with these fruit trees, but for many other reasons. In fact, it is one of the most generous cultivars you can ever find.

4: ‘Pixie’ Evergreen Clematis (Clematis x cartmanii ‘Pixie’)

We come to one of the most unusual varieties of clematis, a hybrid called ‘Pixie.’ Rather than evergreen, you could call it “all green,” in fact! The small flowers, about 2 inches across (5.0 cm), will appear in late spring and keep giving you joy till the beginning of summer, but they look strange…

5: ‘Avalanche’ Evergreen Clematis (Clematis x cartmanii ‘Avalance’)

‘Avalanche’ is hard to match for a candid-looking early blooming clematis variety. The six petals of its flower head will open in early and continue to mid-spring, opening flat and displaying their six petals to you in all their snowy whiteness!

6: ‘Stand by Me’ Clematis (Clematis integrifolia x fremontii ‘Stand by Me’)

As we said, the most unusual varieties of clematis are in the first group, the early blooming ones and ‘Stand by Me’ is one of them! In fact, we think of these plants as vines, but ‘Stand by Me’ is not!

7: ‘Freda’ Clematis (Clematis montana ‘Freda’)

‘Freda’ is a romantic looking variety of early flowering clematis of the first group; it has four broad, sometimes gently curving petals, with a vibrant and bright cherry pink color, which pales to white in a stripe in the middle.

8: Fern Leaved Clematis (Clematis cirrhosa var. balearica)

Here is a wonderful natural species of clematis from the Mediterranean region and North Africa of the second group that will blow you away… Fern leaved clematis is actually unusual, because it will start blooming before all others: in mid or late winter, and it will continue into early spring…

9: ‘Warszawska Nike’ Clematis (Clematis ‘Warszawska Nike’)

‘Warszawska Nike’ is a rally luxurious and spectacular cultivar of second group, reblooming clematis from Poland! In fact, it has won the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society… Maybe because its flowers reach an incredible 7 inches across, or 18 cm?

10: ‘Viva Polonia’ Clematis (Clematis‘Viva Polonia’)

We continue with the Polish theme, with a wonderful cultivar named ‘Viva Polonia’… It will start fairly early on with its showy flowers, un late spring, and it will continue till mid summer, with repeated blooms.

11: ‘Guernsey Cream’ Clematis (Clematis ‘Guernsey Cream’)

Bring pure light to your trellis, pergola or wall with a luminous cultivar of clematis of the second group, from late spring to fall: ‘Guernsey Cream’! Introduced by famous breeder Raymond Evison in his Guernsey nursery, UK, this variety offers you pure snow white all over the blossoms.

12: ‘Niobe’ Clematis (Clematis ‘Niobe’)

‘Niobe’ must be one of the most luxurious and expensive looking varieties of vining clematis of the second group. The reason is simple: its large blossoms. With 6 or even 8 petals each, and reaching 6 inches across (15 cm), they are quite big and showy.

13: ‘Kathleen Dunford’ Clematis (Clematis ‘Kathleen Dunford’)

Elegant and very showy at the same time, ‘Kathleen Dunford’ reblooming clematis hist the perfect balance! The 6 slender and pointed petals that you will see form a star shape, and you can’t miss them, because the flowers can reach an eye watering 8 inches across (20 cm)!

14: ‘Multi Blue’ Clematis (Clematis ‘Multi Blue’)

The second group of clematis includes some of the best and most spectacular double varieties ever, like ‘Multi Blue’. As its name suggests, its many petals have a deep and vibrant blue shade, with hints of violets on the back tepals, which are larger, and they frame the middle ones, which form a flattened dome.

15: ‘Pink Champagne’ Clematis (Clematis ‘Pink Champagne’)

We close our selection of second group reblooming clematis with an outstanding cultivar: ‘Pink Champagne’! In fact, its massive flowers will range between 6 and an overwhelming 8 inches across (15 to 20 cm)! And they are a real spectacle!

16: ‘Perle d’Azur’ Clematis (Clematis ‘Perle d’Azur’)

17: ‘Ernest Markham’ Clematis (Clematis ‘Ernest Markham’)

Here is a generous late flowering clematis variety with a very profound personality: ‘Ernest Markham’, another winner of the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society!

18: ‘Fond Memories’ Clematis (Clematis ‘Fond Memories’)

Aptly named, ‘Fond Memories’ is a late blooming clematis variety for soft feelings. The pointed and elliptical tepals of this clematis have a very soft shade of cream white with a slightly purplish undertone.

19: ‘Golden Harvest’ Clematis (Clematis orientalis ‘Golden Harvest’)

20: ‘Rouge Cardinal’ Clematis (Clematis ‘Rouge Cardinal’)

We close our journey into clematis varieties with yet another late blooming vine with an unusual and unusual color for this genus: ‘Rouge Cardinal’. Deep ruby with crimson reflexes, the flowers really stand out as packed with energy, life and strong passion!