Clematis, with their vibrant and unique flowers, are the perfect accent plants, no matter the size. They add a splash of color and personality when draped over fences, walls, arbors, posts, and pergolas. These beauties are equally enchanting when they weave through trees and shrubs or intermingle with other vines. Personally, I’m a big fan of these climbers. They bloom from spring to autumn, providing a constant parade of flowers that can hide an unsightly facade or harmoniously accompany a climbing rose bush or other shrubs.
While single-flowered varieties have their own charm and a hint of the exotic, double-flowered clematis are truly captivating and extraordinarily beautiful. Despite their sophisticated appearance, they are just as easy to grow as their single-flowered counterparts.
I’ve got a list of my absolute favorite double-flowered clematis that will liven up your garden or terrace as soon as the sunny days arrive.
I hope this inspires you to plant at least one—or maybe even as many as eight, like I have!
1: Clematis ‘Vyvyan Pennell’
Let me introduce you to the absolute rockstar of the garden world: Clematis ‘Vyvyan Pennell’. This beauty is like the Beyoncé of flowers, turning heads and stealing the show with its massive, double lilac-blue-purple blossoms that can grow up to 15 cm across. This stunning display first appears in June and then makes a return in September.
And while the second bloom is a bit more understated, with simpler, lighter-hued flowers, it’s still absolutely charming.
Each blossom is a delightful mix of blue, mauve, purple, and lilac tones, complete with a double center that adds a whimsical touch. The dark green, deciduous foliage creates a perfect backdrop, making those vibrant colors pop even more. Highly floriferous and vigorous, this clematis can climb up to 3 meters on a pergola, fence, or wall. It thrives best with its head in the sun and its roots in the shade, planted in cool, well-drained soil.
For a stunning combination, pair it with the deep, rich hues of Clematis ‘Niobe’, climbing roses in soft pastel tones, or the bright white blooms of Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’. Add some hostas at the base for lush, green foliage to complete the look.
2: Clematis Multi Blue
This small vine, reaching up to 3 meters, is a true beauty. It graces your garden with its blooms from May, takes a little rest in the summer, and then dazzles again with abundant flowers in September. In spring, you’ll enjoy double blooms, while late summer brings a mix of single and double flowers.
Each tepal, ending in a tapered point with wavy edges, displays a deep purplish-blue color, lively and shiny, with a steel-colored median highlighted by a lighter, silvery reverse. When fully bloomed, the center of the flower, which turns purple, reveals a hairy pompom tinged with silver and chartreuse green. It’s a breathtaking sight that adds dynamic beauty to your garden.
The pinnate leaves, with oval, glabrous leaflets, are a deep, dark green typical of the Patens group. This clematis clings to its support or host plant through petioles transformed into tendrils, making it perfect for adding vertical interest to your garden.
Like all clematis from the Patens group, ‘Multi Blue’ thrives with its feet cool and its head in the sun. Whether planted in the ground or in a pot, it’s sure to be a showstopper.
3: Clematis ‘Dancing Dorien® Zodado’
This beauty boasts double, white flowers that are a generous 10 cm in diameter, with delicate pale pink hues that make them look absolutely dreamy. They first bloom spectacularly in May and June, and then they make a grand return in August and September, even larger and semi-double.
Now, let’s talk foliage. It starts with a lovely bronze color and transitions to a rich olive green before gently falling in the autumn.
This modest beauty reaches a manageable height of 2 meters, making it perfect for both garden beds and pots. Just give it a sunny spot with some shade at the base and cool, well-drained soil, and you’re all set.
For a truly romantic garden ensemble, combine this elegant clematis with other varieties such as Clematis ‘Little Mermaid’ or Clematis ‘Dancing Queen’.
4: Clematis Green Passion
Meet the stunning Clematis ‘Green Passion,’ a new variety with large, unique green flowers that will captivate both curious gardeners and bouquet lovers. This eye-catching climber reaches 2 to 3 meters in height and produces an abundance of large, extremely double flowers in spring and again at the end of summer. These blooms resemble tight bouquets of leaves, with a downy, almost white underside. Whether solitary or in cymes, the flowers are particularly abundant, standing erect with a multitude of soft green tepals that look like silky leaves.
The deciduous leaves are small, rounded, glabrous, and medium green.
This remarkable vine thrives in the sun or partial shade and can climb into large shrubs or grow beautifully in a large pot on a terrace. ‘Green Passion’ pairs wonderfully with the pink flowers of lilacs, deutzia, or Kolkwitzia amabilis ‘Pink Cloud’, making it a versatile addition to any garden space.
For an unusual spring bouquet, pick a few branches laden with these unique green flowers and mix them with pink or purple peonies, Angelique tulips, and irises in shades of red, mauve, or pink, along with other garden blooms.
5: Clematis ‘Crystal Fountain’
Clematis ‘Crystal Fountain’ is truly surprising with its double lavender-blue flowers, each displaying a spiky, anise green heart that looks just like a pompom. Measuring 15 cm in diameter, these gorgeous blooms cover the stems from bottom to top in May and June, and then again in September and October.
The deep green, oval leaves are deciduous, providing a lush backdrop for the stunning flowers. Very floriferous and vigorous, ‘Crystal Fountain’ climbs to a height of 2.5 meters. For best results, plant it in clay-siliceous soil that is well-prepared, deep, fresh, drained, and fertile. Hardy up to –29°C, this beauty thrives in sunny spots with its base in the shade.
Since ‘Crystal Fountain’ loves some shade at its feet, consider pairing it with ground cover plants like alyssum. This combination will not only keep your clematis happy but also create a delightful and harmonious garden scene.
6: Clematis ‘Multi Pink’
Clematis ‘Multi Pink’ is a standout vine boasts large, double, ruffled flowers that are nothing short of spectacular. With a multitude of pointed petals, its blooms range from a delightful sugared pink to a deeper pink as you get closer to the heart. Flowering between July and September, these blossoms remind you of the striking cactus dahlias.
The foliage is a lovely medium green and deciduous, adding a fresh touch to your garden. Growing fast and easy to cultivate, ‘Multi Pink’ is a vigorous vine that reaches up to 3 meters in height. It’s perfect for both gardens and pots, making it a versatile choice for your green space. No wonder it won an award from the Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society in the Netherlands!
To truly showcase this beauty, let ‘Multi Pink’ climb on a pergola alongside climbing roses or other clematis with simpler-shaped flowers.
For a stunning garden combination, pair ‘Multi Blue’ with climbing roses in shades of pink or white to complement its deep blue-purple flowers. Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’, with its pale pink and dark pink-striped blooms, creates a striking contrast.
7: Clematis Taiga
Clematis ‘Taiga’, recently developed in Japan, is a true masterpiece that won acclaim at Plantarium 2016 in the Garden, Balcony, and Patio Plants category.
Named after the majestic Taiga forest, famous for its icy blue lakes, Clematis ‘Taiga’ will transform your garden into a canvas of color from July to September. With large, variegated flowers in stunning purplish-blue and cream-green, all nestled among lush green leaves.
The flowers open in three stages, first, you see a large central bud, a delicate light green, surrounded by six star-like branches. As it opens, the bud reveals a crown of purplish-blue petals, tipped with green. Over time, the colors shift to a mesmerizing blend of purple, pink, and cream-white. It’s a floral firework show, and your garden is the main event!
Despite its grand appearance, ‘Taiga’ is quite humble in size. It’s perfect for small gardens, cozy balconies, or even by your front door. Plant it in a pot or let it climb a small bamboo structure, and you’ll have a vibrant, welcoming display that’s sure to impress every visitor.
8: Clematis ‘Red Star’
Clematis ‘Red Star’ is a stunning variety that grows up to 2 meters tall and is adorned with double red pompoms in spring (June) and again at the end of summer (September). The large magenta red flowers, measuring 11 cm in diameter, are enhanced by a heart of yellow stamens. In September, the flowering takes on a simpler form with lanceolate, narrow petals.
The foliage is a lovely medium to light green and deciduous, providing a fresh backdrop for the vibrant flowers. Hardy to –20°C, this Japanese variety is easy to grow. It thrives in both sunny spots and light shade, making it perfect for planting near a tree.
For a dazzling color contrast, pair this red-flowered clematis with a white-flowered variety like ‘Etoile Nacree’. This combination will create a striking and harmonious display in your garden.
9: Clematis ‘Tranquilite’
Clematis Tranquilite displays refined lavender blue flowers enhanced by a bouquet of red stamens. In May and June, you’ll be treated to semi-double blooms, and in September and October, the flowers take on a simpler shape. Very floriferous, ‘Tranquility’ boasts stocky, dark green foliage that falls in autumn and reappears in spring.
Perfect for small spaces, this compact vine reaches just 1.3 meters high when mature, making it ideal for growing in pots on a balcony or in a cozy corner of your garden. For best results, plant it in partial shade to fully appreciate its pastel tones, and ensure the soil is cool and well-drained.
On your terrace, provide ‘Tranquilite’ with a trellis to climb and pair it with other climbing plants in similar colors. Clematis ‘Saphyra Estrella’ and Passiflore caerulea (Fleur de Passion) make wonderful companions, creating a romantic and bohemian composition that will enchant all who see it.
10: Clematis viticella Purpurea Plena Elegans
My all time favorite Clematis, ‘Purpurea Plena Elegans’ bears very double, pompom-shaped flowers that are 4 to 6 cm in diameter, sometimes larger, from June until September-October. The flowers, featuring an unusual color that wavers between wine red, Bordeaux, and purplish, are not very large but are very double. They bloom mainly in the upper half of the plant. During a very dry summer, the flowers may dry up quickly.
The flowers, devoid of stamens, are solitary and can be more or less upright or hanging. Each flower lasts about three weeks and fades beautifully. They bloom on stems that reach a minimum length, with many tepals that are slightly rolled at the edges, dark red in color with a gray-white underside.
The outer tepals sometimes have a green hue, while the center of the flower is more pink. The leaves are divided into small oval to lanceolate leaflets, olive green with irregularly cut edges.
Undemanding and very hardy, it thrives with a gently sunny exposure and ordinary garden soil. Plant it along a pergola or fence and combine it with purple, orange or white climbing roses to create a romantic harmony.
