A vine with huge red flowers is surely to be treasured. ‘Rebecca’, like other clematis, is easy to grow and makes a stunning display of 6-7 inch deep red flowers on an attractive free flowering vine 6-8 feet tall in late spring and early summer, sometimes again in August. ‘Rebecca’ is very floriferous but don’t expect scarlet colored flowers as promised by some nurseries; red tending towards magenta with creamy yellow centers is more accurate. It was featured at Chelsea in 2008 and has been a popular choice since then. ‘Rebecca’ belongs to group 2 (B) and so is easy to prune.
Type: Flowering deciduous vine
Bloom: Deep red flowers 6-7 inches across with creamy yellow centers.
Foliage: Dark-green deciduous leaves
Size: 6-8’ H
Light: Full sun
Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained
Fertilizer: Apply balanced slow release fertilizer in spring
Hardiness: Zones 4-9
Care: In late winter or early spring before the vine leafs out cut back to highest pair of healthy buds and remove all dead and weak stems; mulch to protect roots from drying out and both cold and heat; apply a cup full of lime in spring.
Pests and Diseases: Clematis wilt, powdery mildew, aphids, slugs, earwigs, rabbits, mice
Propagation: Cuttings in May or June (difficult process)
Companion plants: Climbing roses; daylilies.
