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

Clematis 'Piilu' - beautiful, double and single flowers, pale pink-purple, with deep pink stripes, irregular white markings and a crown of yellow stamens. The late flowers are always single. The plant's name is pronounced Pee-loo - translated means Little Duckling.

Clematis 'Piilu' was developed in the early 1980s in Estonia by the late Uno Kivistik, a much admired clematis grower and breeder. 'Piilu' was developed through an extensive breeding programme managed and led by the Kivistik family, seeking highly hardy varieties of clematis for the Baltic countries and Eastern Europe. From the start, it was a popular plant due to its robust and prolific nature and, in the milder climates of Western Europe, it was discovered that it would bloom with double flowers from the previous year's woody growth.

The plant can be treated as a type of clematis with light pruning - pruning is done in late winter or early spring. Leaving a neat and tidy structure of the previous year's growth 60-90 cm from the ground, the plant will produce double flowers and after the flowering period is over, removing the faded flowers or a general cleaning will encourage new growth from which it will bloom a second time in late 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 stunning appearance of the flowers.

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

Classification: Early Large-flowered Group

Cultivation recommendations:

Large-flowered clematis prefer good quality soil with high nutrient levels and good moisture, but well-drained - they do not tolerate boggy soils where water stagnates. It is recommended that when planting, you improve the soil with manure or compost, as much 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 other type of mulch) to maintain soil moisture.

Clematis generally prefer a growing space with good sun exposure.

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

Be prepared to wait a few years for your clematis to reach its best shape.

First year = roots, second year = shoots and branching, third year = consistent and proper flowering.

In the cold season, the plants appear as leafless sticks that appear dry - this is perfectly normal and the plants are as viable as possible.

Height with pot included: approx. 30-40 cm (depending on batch and season)
Pot diameter: 9 cm