Clematis - Clematis 'Piilu' (Early Large-flowered Group)

Clematis 'Piilu' - beautiful, double and single flowers, pale pink-purple, with intense pink stripes, irregular white markings and a crown of yellow stamens. Late flowers are always simple. The name of the plant is pronounced Pee-loo - translated it means Little Rat.

Clematis 'Piilu' was developed in the early 80s in Estonia by the late Uno Kivistik, an admired clematis grower and breeder. 'Piilu' was developed through an extensive breeding program managed and led by the Kivistik family, looking for highly resistant varieties of clematis for the Baltic countries and Eastern Europe. From the beginning, it was a popular plant due to its robust and prolific nature and, in the milder climate of Western Europe, it was found to bloom with double flowers from the previous year's woody growth.

The plant can be treated as a type of clematis with easy cutting - cutting is done at the end of winter or at the beginning of spring. Leaving an orderly and neat structure of the previous year's growth at 60-90 cm from the ground, the plant will produce double flowers and after the end of the flowering period, the removal of withered flowers or a general cleaning will encourage the emergence of new growth from which it will bloom a second time at the end of summer and autumn.

The flowers of the 'Piilu' clematis are between 5-10 cm in diameter, but the smaller size is compensated quantitatively and by the amazing appearance of the flowers.

This variety reaches a final height of approximately 1.5-1.8 meters.

Classification: Early Large-flowered Group

Culture recommendations:

Clematis with large flowers prefer a good quality soil with high levels of nutrients and good moisture, but well drained - they do not tolerate swampy soils where water stagnates. It is recommended that when planting, you improve the soil with manure or compost, as far as possible. In the case of cultivation in drier soils, which tend to dry out quickly, cover the base with a layer of shredded tree bark (or another type of mulch) to maintain soil moisture.

Clematis generally prefer a growing space with good exposure to the sun.

If your clematis blooms in May-June (late spring), cut off the dead flower heads after they have finished to encourage secondary blooms in late summer or fall.

Be prepared to wait a few years until your clematis reaches its best shape.

The first year = roots, the second year = shoots and branching, the third year = consistent and appropriate flowering.

In the cold season, the plants appear in the form of sticks without leaves that seem dry - this aspect is perfectly normal and the plants are as viable as possible.

Height with pots included: approx. 30-50 cm (depending on the batch and season)
Pot diameter: 11-12 cm