Clematis ‘Ernest Markham’

A truly classic cultivar, Clematis ‘Ernest Markham’ has been a gardener’s favourite since its introduction in 1926, and it’s easy to see why. This award-winning (RHS Award of Garden Merit) deciduous vine produces an abundance of large, velvety, vivid magenta flowers, each adorned with striking chocolate-coloured anthers. We love how quickly it establishes, often living up to the clematis adage: ‘The first year they sleep, the second year they creep, and the third year they leap,’ providing a spectacular display that also attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to the garden. It’s also pleasingly deer and rabbit resistant.

For optimal growth, ‘Ernest Markham’ thrives in moist, well-drained soil, and while it appreciates its ‘head in the sun,’ its roots prefer to be kept cool and shaded. We recommend planting it where the foliage receives plenty of sunshine (at least 6 hours) but the root zone is protected, perhaps with a layer of mulch or by underplanting with low-growing shrubs. It’s remarkably adaptable to various soil types, from alkaline to acidic, including chalk, clay, and loams. Ensure deep and regular watering during its first growing season to help establish a strong root system. This hardy clematis is suitable for a wide range of climates, generally hardy to UK zones 4-11.

As a Group 3 clematis, ‘Ernest Markham’ flowers on new wood, so it requires a hard prune in late winter or early spring (typically February or March). Simply cut back all stems to a pair of strong buds, about 30-60cm (1-2 feet) above ground level, to encourage vigorous new growth and a prolific bloom. Its abundant flowering from mid-summer right through to early autumn makes it ideal for training up arbours, pergolas, fences, or walls. For a truly enchanting display, try pairing it with a climbing rose; the clematis will elegantly weave through the rose, extending the flowering season beautifully into the warmer months.