Clematis Ken Donson - 20cm Pot

Clematis ‘Ken Donson’ is an attractive deciduous climbing vine admired for its large, blue-purple flowers and extended flowering season. Its richly coloured blooms create a beautiful display against fresh green foliage, making it an excellent choice for adding colour and vertical interest to the garden.

Producing flowers approximately 15–17cm across, ‘Ken Donson’ features impressive blue-purple blooms that stand out beautifully when trained over a trellis, archway or garden support.

Flowering from spring through to autumn, this Clematis provides an extended season of colour under suitable growing conditions. Its moderate climbing habit makes it particularly well suited to fences, trellises and other garden structures.

Growing up to 3 metres high, ‘Ken Donson’ works beautifully in cottage-style gardens, mixed borders and alongside other climbing plants. Its blue-purple flowers complement white, pink and pastel flowering varieties.

As a deciduous climber, ‘Ken Donson’ loses its foliage during winter before producing fresh growth and flowers as the weather warms.

Mature size: approximately 2.5–3 metres high, with spread depending on the support and growing conditions.

Care & Growing Tips
Plant in full sun to part shade, ideally in a position receiving morning sunlight with protection from harsh afternoon sun. In Melbourne gardens, a sheltered position can help protect the large flowers during hot summer weather.

Clematis ‘Ken Donson’ prefers fertile, moist but well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Keep the roots cool by applying mulch around the base or planting low-growing companion plants nearby.

Water regularly during establishment and maintain consistent soil moisture throughout the warmer months, particularly while the plant is actively growing and flowering.

Apply a balanced, slow-release fertiliser in spring to encourage healthy growth and flowering.

Pruning Group 2: Clematis ‘Ken Donson’ flowers on both previous season's growth and new growth. Lightly prune in late winter or early spring, removing dead or damaged stems and trimming remaining growth back to strong, healthy buds.

Avoid hard pruning, as this can reduce the early spring flowering display. A light trim after the first flush of flowers may encourage further flowering later in the season.

Provide a trellis, climbing frame or other suitable support for the stems to climb. Clematis climbs by wrapping its leaf stalks around slender supports, so fine trellis or garden wire is particularly useful.

Ideal for
— Trellises and climbing frames
— Garden arches and obelisks
— Fences and garden structures
— Cottage-style gardens
— Mixed perennial borders
— Growing alongside climbing roses
— Adding vertical garden interest
— Blue and purple garden designs
— Large-flowered garden displays
— Spring to autumn flowering colour
— Creating height in garden beds
— Growing alongside white and pink flowering plants