I don’t know about you, but I almost expect to pay a higher price each time I buy groceries, go to the gas station, or pay the bills – as everything seems to be getting more expensive, even on a weekly basis. At Amsterdam Garden Centre we thought it would be nice to offer you something beautiful for your garden without having to break the bank. With that in mind, here are ten stunning clematis cultivars that we offer at a regular price point, all of which are reliably perennial, cold hardy to USDA zone 4 and happen to be the same B pruning group (although ‘Ville de Lyon’ and ‘Niobe’ can also be treated as a hard prune group C).
‘Mrs. N. Thompson’
Although she is a child of the 1950’s (1954 to be precise), ‘Mrs. N. Thompson’ broke the colour conventions of the era. Her eye-popping deep violet-blue petals are sharply contrasted by a bold red bar and are easily seen at a distance when in bloom from May-June and September. These are further highlighted by yellow stamens tipped in burgundy, making her a real show-off. Grows 6-9’ tall.
(Mrs. N. Thompson | 📸 Clearview)
‘Vancouver Fragrant Star’
Don’t let the clear white petals fool you, as this complex hybrid of ‘Blue Ravine’ and ‘Capitaine Thuilleaux’ bears massive 6-8” wide blooms that also emit a light scent of vanilla. This local Clearview introduction becomes a real showstopper once the burgundy-tipped stamens full open from May to June, and September. Grows 6-9’ tall.
(Vancouver Fragrant Star | 📸 Clearview)
‘Niobe’
Few clematis have the velvet richness of this dark burgundy to ruby red, so much so that it almost seems to absorb the light that surrounds it. The yellow stamens also provide a pleasing contrast, and its compact nature makes it a good choice for sharing an arbor with a climbing rose, such as the pristine white ‘City of York’, which is also available as a hardy own-root plant. Grows 6-8’ tall.
(Niobe | 📸 Clearview)
‘Royalty’
A double clematis that really lives up to its name with ruffled purplish-blue flowers in May and June, followed by equally beautiful single blooms in September. When combined with another regal clematis, the double ‘Duchess of Edinburgh’ with its green-tipped white blossoms, a truly majestic display can be expected. Grows 6-9’ tall.
(Royalty | 📸 Clearview)
‘Nelly Moser’
She may have been around since 1897, but ‘Nelly Moser’ has lost none of her lustre and still remains our top-selling variety. The shell pink petals accented by a pale carmine bar hold their colour much better when grown in partial shade and the purple-tipped stamens stand out no matter where you plant her. Grows 6-9’ tall.
(Nelly Moser | 📸 MK Lascelle)
‘Veronica’s Choice’
Here’s a clematis with almost indescribable frilled petals that have a pearl-like quality, showing hints of soft pink, pale lavender and French grey, depending on its exposure. The flowers are fully double in May and June and almost appear to be backlit, while the September flush is single in form, but nonetheless stunning. Grows 6-9’ tall.
(Veronica's Choice | 📸 Clearview)
‘Ville de Lyon’
An oldie but goody, as this early cultivar (1899) remains popular to this day much in part due to its floriferous nature and unique carmine-red petals that are subtly darker on the edges. The creamy-yellow stamens also add to the overall appeal, and it blooms constantly throughout the summer. Grows 8-12’ tall.
(Ville de Lyon | 📸 Clearview)
‘Mrs. PT James’
If you are looking to buy local, then ‘Mrs. PT James’ is the clematis for you, as she was bred (on Salt Spring Island in 1965) and produced right here, in British Columbia. Of course, I also promised you exceptional beauty and this cultivar comes through with sparkling pale purplish-blue double flowers in June, followed by stunning singles for the rest of summer. Grows 6-9’ tall.
(Mrs. PT James | 📸 Clearview)
‘Joan Picton’
A truly unique bicolour clematis with up to 6” wide blooms of clear purple with a contrasting white bar, accented by enticing caramel-coloured tips. This child of the seventies (1974) tends to sell quickly as soon as one flower opens up, so don’t think twice about this particular variety. She also blooms constantly from June to September. Grows 6-9’ tall.
(Joan Picton | 📸 Clearview)
‘Walter Pennell’
My last offering was also introduced in the 1970’s but for some reason, isn’t as commonly available as ‘Vyvyan Pennell’. And yet the semi-double blooms have a similar colouring to the popular ‘Nelly Moser’, but with a slightly darker mauve pink. The bright yellow stamens really stand out in the centre of the flower, and he produces single blooms in late August. Grows 6-9’ tall.
(Walter Pennell | 📸 Clearview)
You can find all of these lovely clematis varieties and dozens more in bud right now at Amsterdam Garden Centre.
Copyright 2025 MK Lascelle
