Clematis Queen's Nurse - Live Starter Plants - 2 Inch Pot

Clematis Queen's Nurse is a compact, free-flowering deciduous vine created for a long, richly colored display without overwhelming its setting. Often sold as Queen's Nurse Clematis or Boulevard Queen's Nurse, it carries broad, saucer-shaped blooms above a dense backdrop of mid- to deep-green leaves. Each flower centers on a bright crown of primrose-yellow anthers, surrounded by lightly ruffled, overlapping sepals in rosy pink. Newer stems produce paler blooms marked with bold, deeper-pink central bars, while established stems can open flowers in a more uniform, saturated pink. The two expressions may appear together, giving one plant a layered, changing palette.

With a restrained climbing habit, Queen's Nurse generally reaches about 3 to 4 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide, making it an elegant fit for patios, small borders, balconies, and courtyard gardens. Its leaf stalks naturally curl around slender supports, allowing the vine to dress a compact trellis, obelisk, or low railing; it can also thread through a small shrub or spill softly as a groundcover. The plant flowers generously along its stems, with an early display commonly followed by renewed color later in the season. This repeat performance, combined with its manageable proportions and remarkable two-tone flower effect, gives it strong presence in a container or limited space. Named in recognition of Queen's Nurses and their historic connection with the National Garden Scheme, this distinctive cultivar blends an engaging story with polished garden style.

• Physical character: Expect a leafy deciduous vine about 1 to 2 feet wide, clothed in rich green foliage and broad, lightly ruffled flowers with overlapping sepals. Fresh stems carry pale pink blooms crossed by deep rosy bars, while older stems may bear solid deeper-pink flowers; primrose-yellow anthers brighten both forms. The contrast creates an unusual multitone display on a single compact plant.

• Sunlight: Position Queen's Nurse where the stems receive at least six hours of direct sun for the fullest flower display. In regions with intense afternoon heat, morning sun followed by light afternoon shade helps preserve bloom color and reduces moisture loss. Keep the root area cool with nearby low planting or a shallow surface layer, while leaving the vine itself in bright light.

• Watering: Water deeply after planting, then maintain evenly moist conditions while the root system settles in. Once established, check the soil regularly and water when the upper inch begins to feel dry, soaking the root zone rather than wetting lightly at the surface. Containers dry more quickly than beds, so inspect them often during warm or windy spells; always let excess water drain freely.

• Soil: Choose fertile, moisture-retentive yet well-drained soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline reaction; this vine dislikes ground that stays saturated. Loosen a generous planting area so roots can extend easily, and set container specimens in a substantial pot with ample drainage openings. A cool root run paired with reliable drainage supports steady stems and a generous succession of flowers.

• Growth and upkeep: This compact climber establishes at a moderate pace and typically matures around 3 to 4 feet tall, so it remains easy to guide in tight spaces. Provide a slim trellis, obelisk, or mesh that its leaf stalks can grasp, and tie young stems loosely until they find support. Routine attention is modest: direct wandering shoots, remove spent leaves, and refresh the surface layer as needed.