Clematis ‘Taiga’

Clematis ‘Taiga’ is an extraordinary deciduous climber that never ceases to impress us here at Tandee Nursery. Its most enchanting feature is undoubtedly the exotic, ever-evolving flowers. Beginning as tight, spikey buds, they gradually open to reveal lavish, fully double blooms, reminiscent of passion flowers or even layered dahlias, with rich violet-blue petals beautifully tipped in creamy lime green. This shifting display of shape and hue from early summer right through to autumn makes ‘Taiga’ a real talking point in any garden. It was even a Chelsea Flower Show award winner in 2017, which speaks volumes for its appeal.

For optimal growth, we recommend planting ‘Taiga’ in a location that receives full sun to partial shade. Like most clematis, it appreciates its ‘head in the sun and feet in the shade’, so keeping the root run cool and moist is key – a good layer of mulch or some low-growing perennials at its base works a treat. It thrives in rich, well-drained soil with a neutral to slightly acidic pH. Regular watering is essential, especially during dry spells, to ensure consistent moisture without waterlogging. This hardy variety is reliably cold-hardy throughout most of the UK.

‘Taiga’ belongs to Pruning Group 3, meaning it flowers on new wood. We advise a hard prune in late winter or early spring; simply cut back all stems to a pair of strong buds about 30cm (12 inches) above ground level before new growth begins. This encourages vigorous new shoots and a magnificent display of flowers from June to September. Its compact habit, reaching around 2.5 metres (8 feet) in height, makes it wonderfully versatile – perfect for training up a trellis, an obelisk, or gracefully scrambling through open shrubs. It’s also an excellent choice for a large container on a patio, where its striking blooms can be admired up close.