Sparky® Purple Clematis

• Partial Sun to Full Sun (At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)
• Height 6 - 8 Feet
• Width 6 - 8 Feet
• Growing Zones 5-8
• Pruning Group 1

Gardeners who love clematis are going to love this new introduction to the buttercup family, Sparky Purple Clematis! Extend your clematis bloom by months with this spring blooming newest member of the Clematis family. Light hearted, whirling, twirling two inch blossoms cover the medium green foliage, nodding on the end of their stems. Violet purple blooms face downward, looking for all the world like a fuchsia bud at first, then opening up and revealing a dazzling array of petals with yellow centers. While most clematis are late summer blooming varieties, here is one that can take the cool months and make the most of them in your garden.

Native to China and then Japan, since before the 1800’s gardeners have been in love with the Clematis vine. Large flowers, small flowers, frilly flowers, purple, pink, red and white...there are hundreds of varieties and cultivars. If you love the frilly look of Floral Feast Clematis, you will love the darker violet colors of Sparky Purple. Hardy in Zones 5-8, Sparky will grow quickly, developing a vast vining network and give you a shower of blossoms in early spring. This lovely perennial grows best in regions with cold but not harsh winters. It can be planted in light shade to full sun, giving you versatility in your landscape.

Sparky® Purple Clematis Care

Like all clematis, Sparky is going to need a structure to grow on. It needs a railing, trellis, bamboo stakes...something to give it the support it needs as it starts its reach for the sun. Also like most clematis, it likes its head to be hot (full sun for 4-6 hours) and its roots to be cool (light mulch or ground cover). It requires a well draining soil, and will not tolerate a soggy soil. Preferred pH level is about 5.8 to 6.2, which is pretty much good garden soil. Fertilize with a low nitrogen fertilizer such as a 5-10-10 when the soil warms up past 55 degrees for best take up of nutrients. Water regularly to maintain a moist, not wet, soil.

Deadheading is not necessary for clematis and if left on the vine, the blooms leave an interesting spent bloom structure that you may find intriguing. This spring blooming clematis blooms on old wood, last year’s growth, so if you have to prune, be sure to do so immediately after the blooms are done for the early to mid summer so that the plant can prepare for next year's blossoms. This is considered pruning group 1. This variety of clematis is disease resistant and typically not bothered by clematis wilt or powdery mildew.

Sparky® Purple Clematis Spacing

Proper spacing is crucial as this is a climbing vine. If you give it an upright support, it will climb up. If you give it a horizontal support, it will vine horizontally. Given that it can grow to 96 inches tall and spread out 96 inches, give plants a wide berth at 72 to 96 inches spacing for best performance. This lovely vigorous clematis vine works great in containers on your patio or porch as well as in your landscape as a specimen plant. It also looks wonderful paired with other clematis along a fence line or trellis wall for maximum effect. Whatever, wherever you decide, you are going to enjoy this new refreshing spring blooming clematis.

SKU:

CLESP