Princess Diana

Basic information

• Name: Clematis ‘Princess Diana’ bred in 1984 (synonym: Clematis ‘The Princess of Wales’). Belongs to the Texensis clematis group

• Award: has received the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) «Award of Garden Merit».

Appearance and characteristics

• Height: Reaches approximately 2.5–3 m in height, spread around 1–1.5 m.

• Flowers: Bright pink to reddish-pink tones, often lighter at the petal edges, with creamy and dark red in the centre, tulip-shaped, medium-sized.

• Blooming period: Usually from mid-summer to early autumn (July, August). This variety is known for relatively late flowering into autumn.

• Location: Sunny or partially shaded (for example, morning sun and light shade in the afternoon). Roots should be in a darker, cooler place (“feet in the shade, head in the sun”). If the soil is not well drained or the roots are exposed to excessive sunlight (without mulching, or too much direct sun in the root zone), this can hinder growth.

• Soil: Humus-rich, moderately moist, well-drained.

• Pruning: Belongs to the third pruning group, which means it flowers on the current year’s shoots, so it should be pruned in spring, leaving shoots about 20–30 cm above the ground.

• Well suited for planting by a fence, arch, pergola or terrace, as a specimen plant with a sturdy support in beds and in the garden; it can be combined with other plants, for example alongside roses.

• Fertilising: In spring, scatter and work a slow-release fertiliser such as Osmocot 4-6mēn. into the soil around the plant, or use a compound NPK fertiliser.

Possible challenges

• Clematis may be susceptible to diseases such as clematis wilt, and possible pests such as aphids, spider mites and slugs can damage young shoots.