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Raymond Evison Clematis Collection

April 8, 2026

Champion Breeder, Raymond Evison

Raymond Evison, CBE VMH, is one of the world’s foremost clematis breeders, with a career spanning six decades. He began his horticultural journey at age 15 in Shropshire, England, and eventually established The Guernsey Clematis Nursery on the sunny Channel Islands, where he has spent a lifetime searching for, breeding, and developing the world’s finest clematis.

Over his career, Evison has introduced more than 200 clematis species and cultivars — earning 33 Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medals along the way, including 15 consecutive golds. He has been awarded the RHS Victoria Medal of Honour, received a CBE for services to horticulture, and his nursery holds a Royal Warrant. Simply put, there is no more respected name in the world of clematis.

His breeding process is as rigorous as his résumé suggests: each new variety undergoes 10 years of crossing, selection, and assessment before release, evaluated for distinct flowers, good color, disease resistance, repeat flowering, and — of course — beauty.

Why Raymond Evison Clematis?

What sets this collection apart is its range. Evison has been a pioneer in developing compact clematis varieties suited to smaller modern gardens — plants that pack extraordinary flower power into a manageable footprint. Whether you have a sprawling fence to cover or a single patio pot, there’s a variety in this collection for you.

For climbers and vertical interest: Traditional vining varieties reach 6–10 feet, making them ideal for trellises, arbors, fences, and growing through shrubs or small trees. They thrive in full sun to part shade with well-drained soil and consistent moisture.

For patio gardeners and container enthusiasts: The compact Boulevard® varieties in this collection reach just 2–3 feet wide and 3–5 feet high. Their impressive flower power defies expectations for their manageable size, making them perfect for small-space gardening and container planting in full sun to part shade.

At a glance: Blooms spring through fall (variety dependent) · Full sun to part shade · Well-drained soil · Regular watering

Featured Varieties

We’re proud to carry four standout selections from the Raymond Evison collection this season. Each one has been bred for exceptional flower power, long bloom seasons, and reliable performance in the garden or container.

Clematis ‘Lindsey’

Large star-shaped flowers in a striking deep purple-blue with complementary red anthers. Flowers cover the plant from base to tip from spring through summer, with a repeat flowering in September.

Clematis ‘Nubia’

Strong red tepals with a dark center make for a striking flower best displayed in a sunny or partially sunny spot. A compact variety and an excellent choice for patio containers, pots, or planters — and one of the strongest deep-red flowered clematis available.

Clematis ‘Parisienne’

Launched at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2005 and still a bestseller. A superb repeat-flowering plant that performs reliably year after year. Equally at home as a garden border plant for small spaces or grown in a container on the deck, patio, or outdoor dining area.

Clematis ‘Vicki’

An exceptional and attractive, free-flowering plant. A superb choice for a shaded area such as a north-facing wall, or grown in a container in a shaded outdoor eating area, patio, or deck.

A Deep Dive into Clematis

If you want to go further with clematis, we highly recommend “The Gardener’s Guide to Growing Clematis” by Raymond J. Evison. This definitive book is packed with expert advice on successfully cultivating these beautiful vines and is available through most booksellers. We hope you grow to love clematis as much as we do!

Stop in and see us to browse the full Raymond Evison Clematis collection — or visit us at gatewaygardens.com. We’re open Mon–Fri 9am–6pm and Sat–Sun 9am–5pm.