Flowers may be single, double, or even triple. All colors are available. The one drawback of the Queen of Vines is their lack of fragrance in the large flowered varieties. Small-flowered species offer a range of fragrances from almond to hot cocoa. Besides having attractive flowers, clematis seedheads are attractive as well.
Foliage ranges from a medium to dark-green.
Clematis climb by twisting their petioles around a support. They do not twine or root as do other climbers. Over 250 species and at least 5000 varieties are available which bloom from May until frost. Clematis are divided into three main groups based on season of bloom. Group one produces its flowers on short flower stalks emerging directly from the leaf axil bud, usually on previous season's stems.