Clematis ‘Betty Corning’

One of the most beautiful Clematis ever introduced, ‘Betty Corning’ begins the bloom season in early summer with dozens upon dozens of smoky violet-blue, bell-shaped blooms about 2 inches across. Sweetly fragrant, they dangle from trellises, arbors, and pergolas, or peek through the branches of open-habit shrubs, wend their way through fences, and enliven mailboxes, lampposts, and other vertical supports. Very heavy blooming through early fall, ‘Betty Corning’ is a must-have for the sunny garden!

Introduced in 1932, ‘Betty Corning’ is an heirloom to be treasured. The new spring foliage is often tinted bronze, extending the seasons of interest for this Clematis. The blooms are deeply veined on climbing plants reaching 5 to 6 feet high, and are among the most fragrant of any Clematis. The bloom power, fragrance, lovely flower form, and exceptional resistance to both cold and heat earned ‘Betty Corning’ a Gold Medal from the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society.

Like most Clematis, it likes cool roots and warm tops, so mulch around its base very heavily and let it grow up in full sun or part shade. Somewhat drought tolerant, it is a very tenacious and dependable Clematis. Zones 3-9. Pruning Group III.