Professional Growing Information 
I bought this last year and it did as expected, not much. This year it's shooting up like crazy. I can't wait to see blooms! The only reason it doesn't get 5 stars from me is because the vines are pretty tender and break easily if you aren't very careful.
'Sweet Summer Love' Clematis x
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Details
Features
When the world-renown clematis breeder Szczepan Marczynski of Poland told us he had what amounts to a sweet autumn clematis with red flowers that change to purple and that blooms months earlier, we were all in. The fragrance of sweet autumn clematis is as good as any plant in existence, and the same goes this beauty. Most Clematis can be tricky to grow, with brittle stems that break if you so much as look at them, but this plant is super sturdy and grows like a dream. Anyone can be successful growing this variety. It's as close to perfection as a plant can be.
'Sweet Summer Love' gives you everything you want: the flowers, the fragrance, the ease of growth and cranberry-violet blooms that start over a month earlier than others - starting in July in the midwest and northeast, and lasting until mid-September. It will add lots of drama to gardens when trained up a trellis or other support.
The first year you plant it, it does not do much besides grow roots. The next year it takes off, however, it is much more restrained than sweet autumn clematis and does not litter the garden with unwanted seedlings. This plant has what it takes to be the best-selling clematis of all time. It won a DGA Green Thumb award for the best new plant of 2014 and we expect it to earn many more awards and accolades as people get to know it.
'Sweet Summer Love' clematis is featured in our "Aroma Therapist" magazine ad.
Fragrant FlowerLong BloomingVine:VineCharacteristics
Plant Type:ShrubShrub Type:DeciduousHeight Category:TallGarden Height:120 - 180 InchesTrails Up To:180 InchesSpacing:72 - 120 InchesSpread:72 - 120 InchesFlower Colors:PurpleFlower Shade:cranberry-violetFoliage Colors:GreenFoliage Shade:cleanHabit:ClimbingContainer Role:ThrillerPlant Needs
Light Requirement:Part Sun to SunThe optimum amount of sun or shade each plant needs to thrive: Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours).
Light Requirement:SunThe optimum amount of sun or shade each plant needs to thrive: Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours).
Maintenance Category:EasyBlooms On:New WoodBloom Time:Early SummerBloom Time:Mid SummerBloom Time:Late SummerHardiness Zones:4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9bWater Category:AverageSoil Fertility Requirement:Average SoilSoil PH Category:Neutral SoilUses:LandscapeUses Notes:Landcapes. May also be grown on a trellis in a large patio container.
Maintenance Notes:Prefers average, well-drained but moist soil. Keep the roots cool. May benefit from a hard pruning in late winter. Leave at least two pairs of buds on each stem.
Cranberry-purple flowers. Fragrant. Vine. Long bloom time.
'Sweet Summer Love' Clematis x USPP 24,044, Can 5,303 -
16 Reviews
594232213Browse reviews from people who have grown this plant.-
Leesa J, Ohio, United States, 44 weeks ago
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I bought this in the quart container and planted at the foot of my arbor. Well draining soil. Fertilized and professionally cared for. died back in winter and came back -- but no blooms and is growing out as a bush v a vine. I am quite disappointed.
Rebecca Spence, North Carolina, United States, 45 weeks ago -
Disappointed. Bought a gallon size with many blooms, tons of new green growth, 3' high. Put it in the ground, it didn't add any additional blooms. the next year it did nothing the next year it grew to 12 feet high with very few blooms. Year 4, it's back to stunted two feet high and spindly. My jackmanii clematis doing well just not this variety. I even give it pw soluble fertilizer. zone 7B. Pulling it out, waste of water. Darn.
Karen, 1 year ago -
I too was at first skeptical with the two I bought after one season but now in season two they are shooting up so many strong new tendrils and it's still April! I'm confidant this clematis will perform as advertised! I have them located on the east side of a brick garage.
Linda Perry, 1 year ago -
I bought two of these vines 4 years ago. The first couple of years I got a few tendrils growing up the trellis, but no flowers. The third year, one died, one barely came back. This year, they are both gone. I have other clematis in the garden that do well. I'm very disappointed in these. I expected to have 2 well established vines by now.
Terri Molle, Canada, 2 years ago -
Of all the varieties of clematis I've grown, this is my favorite. This plant produces hundreds of blooms! Stunning!
linda miller, Michigan, United States, 3 years ago -
Rather disappointed in it really. I bought a teeny tiny, quart-sized one last year from Home Depot. It grew really well, planted in a container with a trellis, covering the trellis. It even put out quite a few blooms. Unfortunately, it didn't survive our winter. That was my fault. This year, I bought two in the largest containers available, from Proven Winners and planted them into the ground against a wrought iron fence. They are growing, but rather slowly, and the branches seem to snap off easily in the slightest breeze. Once that growing tip is gone, that particular shoot just seems to stop. Each of them have about 3 shoots that have reached the top of this short little fence, but that's about it. These don't seem to want to twine around the fence either, like the one from last year did. I'm constantly trying to train them. I know, I know, first they sleep, then they creep, then they leap. That's why I paid all that extra money for the biggest plants available, hoping to skip one of those steps. I'm hoping I'm in the creep phase this season and it impresses me next year, but as of now, they are just sort of "meh".
Jay, Illinois, United States, 3 years ago -
I have had this plant for 4 years now, and have not seen a bloom, nor has it branched out and become a sturdy vine. It dies back to the ground, and just when I think it's dead, it sends up one or two shoots - that's it. Each year I think this will be the year it flowers. If it doesn't at least grow into a sturdy vine this year, I will be replacing it with an old, tried and true variety. Very disappointing.
Terri, Ontario, Canada, 3 years ago -
Love my clematus and I grow PW only if I can.
Joyce Hackbart, Iowa, United States, 8 years ago -
I would have rated this clematis the next level down, but since I only just planted it last spring I'm giving it time to live up to its expected potential. It grew very quickly; having planted a nice 20 inch or so nursery plant in my Zone 6b garden in late May 2014, by the end of July it had nearly reached the top of my arbor. However, the blooms were few and they are small, although quite pretty and a lovely color. I expect it will have a much larger mass of blooms in its second year, which is essential in my case since this arbor is located a good distance from my driveway/sidewalk and the street and I want something that will be a show stopper. Mayhap I'll put another vine on the arbor to keep it company, perhaps a different clematis or a rose. Photos can be found here: thecranesnest.com
Cynthia Crane, West Virginia, United States, 8 years ago
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