Society Growing In Print Events Gardens Profiles Help
Home PageMembers SectionJoiningNext EventSeed ExchangeAsk a QuestionSite MapGraceGrace
GraceGrace
BCS AWARDS

               

In 1995, the BCS started a trial ground near St Albans which subsequently moved to Wisley, it most recently returned and shared space with that of the Royal National Rose Society. Unfortunately due to ongoing costs and availability of society members (plus other various reasons) the trials have now stopped.

The overall purpose of these trials was to judge cultivars for their value as garden plants, not as commercial or exhibition plants.

Clematis chosen for trialling were planted out at the trial grounds generally for a period of three years and are then judged anonymously by a panel drawn from the British Clematis Society. Clematis chosen as winners are awarded the Certificate of Merit.

In addition, from 1999 onwards, the best cultivar may be awarded, in perpetuity, the "Valarasan-Toomey Award", in the form of a silver medallion, which has been donated by Dr Mary Toomey, for many years the editor of the Society's journal The Clematis.

Since 2007 those plants which are awarded more than 80% of the vote recieve the BCS Certificate of Merit', while those that gain more than 70% receive a 'Commended Certificate'.

It should be noted that the years quoted were those of the award* and not the date that the plant trial started.

* The normal trial awards published for 2013 were made published in 2012, due to the trial site closing.



Awards for 2016
There were no less than seven awards for this year among the plants which were trialled - no less than six receiving a Certificate of Merit' while.
(Ref. Page 166 of 'The Clematis' BCS Journal 2016)


Clematis
'Yukikomachi'
- this cultivar has been awarded a 'Commended Certificate' by the judges. It is a climbing deciduous sub-shrub of the Early Large-flowering Group, which flowers between May & June on last years growth and between August & October from that years growth reaching a height of 1.8-2.8m

Clematis 'Chris' - this cultivar was raised by Val Le May Nevill-Parry and named in 2013, it has been awarded a 'Certificate of Merit' by the judges. It is a herbaceous sub-shrub of the Heracleifolia Group, bearing shorter stems but more flowers than usually found in plants of this group.

Clematis 'Walenburg' - this cultivar is a chance seedling found growing on the Walenburg Estate and introduced around 1990 which has been awarded a 'Certificate of Merit' by the judges. It is a climbing deciduous sub-shrub of the Viticella Group, which flowers between late June and September and reaches a height of between 2-3m.


Clematis
'Margaret Jones'
- this cultivar was raised by A, Smyth and introduced by Thorncroft Clematis nursery in 1991 and has been awarded a 'Certificate of Merit' by the judges. It is a climbing deciduous sub-shrub of the Montana Group, flowering between April & June, while reaching a height of around 9m.

Clematis 'Triinu' - this cultivar was raised by U & V Kivistik (Pre 1982) from a seedling of C.'Ville de Lyon' and was awarded a 'Certificate of Merit' by the judges. It is a member of the Viticella Group which flowers between late June-September from that years growth, reaching a height of 2-3m.

Clematis 'Kasmu' - this cultivar was raised by U & V Kivistik in 1987 from a cross of C.'Madame Julia Correvon' x 'Niobe' and was awarded a 'Certificate of Merit' by the judges. It is a member of the Viticella Group which flowers between late July-September from that years growth, reaching a height of 2.5-4m.



No awards between 2014 - 2015
(This is due to the relocation of the trials ground)



Awards for 2013
(Note due to the trials ground closing the plants being trialled for this years awards were judged at the same time as those being judged for the 2012 awards).
There were two awards for this year among the plants which were trialled - one received a Certificate of Merit' while the other received a 'Commended Certificate'.
(Ref. Page 186 of 'The Clematis' BCS Journal 2012)



Clematis
STAR RIVER™ ('Zostarri')

Raised in 2000 by Wim Snoeijer at the nursery of Jan Van Zoest in Boskoop, The Netherlands, this cultivar has received a 'Certificate of Merit'. It is a deciduous non-climbing sub-shrub with stems to about 1.5m in length and flowers from late June-September.

Clematis SPIKEY™ ('Zospi')
Raised in 2000 by Wim Snoeijer at the nursery of Jan Van Zoest in Boskoop, The Netherlands, this cultivar has received a 'Commended Certificate'. This cultivar is a member of the atragene Group and flowers on last years growth from April-May on a climbing plant to around 3m.



Awards for 2012
There were two awards this year among the plants which were trialled - all received a 'Commended Certificate'.
(Ref. Page 185 of 'The Clematis' BCS Journal 2012)

Clematis TWINKLE™ ('Zotwi') - this cultivar was raised by Wim Snoeijer at the nursery of Jan Van Zoest in Boskoop, The Netherlands and has received a 'Commended Certificate'.



Clematis
HAPPY BIRTHDAY™ ('Zohapbi')
- this cultivar was raised by Wim Snoeijer at the nursery of Jan Van Zoest in Boskoop, The Netherlands and has received a 'Commended Certificate'.



Awards for 2011
There were two awards this year among the nine plants which were trialled - all received a 'Commended Certificate'.
(Ref. Page 14 of 'The Clematis' BCS Journal 2011)
Clematis EAST RIVER™ ('Zoestri') - this cultivar was raised by Wim Snoeijer at the nursery of Jan Van Zoest, Boskoop, Netherlands in 2000 and was awarded a 'Commended Certificate' by the judges. It is a non-climbing deciduous sub-shrub which flowers between Late June and September from stems of around 1.7m in length.
Note: it had previously been awarded a bronze medal at the Boskoop Plantarium 2007
Clematis 'Minister' - this cultivar was raised by U & V Kivistik (Pre 1982) and was awarded a 'Commended Certificate' by the judges. It is a member of the Early Large-flowered Group which flowers between May & June on last years growth and between July & September from that years growth. It grows to a height of 1.5-2.5m and can produce single, semi-double and double flowers.
 



Awards for 2010
There were three awards this year among the ten plants which were trialled - all received a 'Commended Certificate'.
(Ref. Page 13 of 'The Clematis' BCS Journal 2010)



Clematis JACKMANII PURPUREA™ ('Zojapur')
- A 'Commended Certificate' was awarded to this herbaceous, non-climbing plant raised in 2000. It belongs to the late large flowering group and was raised by Wim Snoeijer at the Jan Van Zoest Nursery in Holland. It flowers from Late June to September on that years growth, reaching a height of between 2-2.5m.
Note: it had previously been awarded a bronze medal at the Boskoop Plantarium 2007



Clematis 'Fukuzono - A 'Commended Certificate' was awarded to this herbaceous, non-climbing plant raised in 1997. It belongs to the integrifolia group and was raised by Tetsuya Hirota of Japan using C. x durandii as one of the parents. It flowers from June to September on that years growth, reaching a height of between 1-3m.

Clematis 'Poldice' - A 'Commended Certificate' was awarded to this climbing cultivar raised in 2003. It belongs to the viticella group and was raised by Charlie Pridham of Roseland House Nursery using 'Black Prince as one of the parents. It has bell shaped nodding white flowers, broadly edged in blue-purple and it flowers from July to September on that years growth, reaching a height of 3m. It is named after a Cornish village and tin mine.
 


Awards for 2009
There were three awards this year.
(Ref. Page 15 of 'The Clematis' BCS Journal 2009)



Clematis
'Kaaru'
raised by the late Uno Kivistik and Mrs Aili Kivistik at their nursery in Roogoja, Estonia in 1984, achieved a 'Commended Certificate'. It has Largish reddish-mauve flowers with red anthers on a plant to about 2.5m. This cultivar was raised from seed of 'Hagley Hybrid' and its name was derived from a well known Estonian nursery Rhyme.

                      
Clematis 'Stephanie'
raised by Moira and Steve Gilsenan here in the UK received a 'Commended Certificate'. This cultivar was raised from a cross of
C.koreana
and C.turkestanica in the late 90's and was named after a friend of the family. It has nodding, bell-shaped flowers which are a pale blue/violet on the outside fading to white as you progress inwards. A member of the atragene family reaching a height somewhere between 2.5 - 4m.

Clematis 'Buddy' raised by Moira and Steve Gilsenan received a 'Commended Certificate'. This cultivar was raised from a cross of C.crispa and C.viticella.



Awards for 2008
There was only one awards this year out of the ten plants trialled.
(Ref. Page 14 of 'The Clematis' BCS Journal 2008)
             
Clematis BLUE PIROUETTE™ ('Zobluepi') raised by Wim Snoeijer at the nursery of Jan Van Zoest, Boskoop, Netherlands, received a 'Commended Certificate'. This cultivar was raised from a cross of C.'Rosea' (syn. integrifolia 'Rosea') and C. 'Warszawksa Nike'. This pruning group 3 cultivar has up-facing flowers with 4 violet-blue sepals each with a purple tinge. It is a semi-climber to about 1.7m and produces its flowers from Mid to late summer. This cultivar has been one of the first clematis to be selected for use within the cut flower trade.



Awards for 2007
There were three awards this year.
(Ref. Page 22 of 'The Clematis' BCS Journal 2007)

                 
Clematis 'Blue Eclipse' raised from a selected seedling of C.koreana by Sylvia Denny and the late Vince Denny in 1989 recieved the 'BCS Certificate of Merit'. The Single, (but very occasionally semi-double) blue, nodding, bell shaped flowers are produced on a plant to about 2.5 - 3.5m. The outside of the sepal is a deep-purple opening out to reveal silvery cream margins. A truly stunning cultivar that deserves to be in every garden. It demands a well drained position but thrives in poor soil like most of the koreana family.

                             
Clematis
'Kaiu' raised by Erich Pranno of Kaiu, Estonia in 1982 recieved the 'Commended Certificate'.This cultivar produces masses of nodding, pitcher-shaped flowers which are tinged pinkish-purple when they first come out, but this gives way to white as the flower matures. The flowers tend to open out slightly as it matures on a plant that once established can put on an immense amount of growth to about 2 - 3m.
Possibly the result of a cross between C.viorna and C.viticella subsp. campaniflora.



Clematis
'Buckland Beauty'
raised by Everett Leeds from seed donated to the BCS seed exchange scheme by Wim Snoeijer recieved the 'Commended Certificate'.
This truly stunning cultivar produces relatively small pinky mauve, nodding flowers between late June and September on a plant to about 2.5m. A cross of C texenisis with possibly with C pitcheri.



There were no Awards between 2006 and 2004



Awards for 2003
There were three awards and one recommendation this year, with one cultivar Clematis 'Broughton Bride' winning the BCS Gold Medal Certificate.
(Ref. BCS Press Release January 2004)


Clematis 'Broughton Bride'
- is a Clematis koreana hybrid climber bred by Sylvia and the late Vince Denny. A profusion of cream to white, bell like flowers up to 10cm (4ins) long with single flowers in the spring and doubles in early summer; climbing up to 3m. (10ft) or higher. A truly outstanding, hardy climber with long flowering periods followed by attractive, silky seed-heads.



Clematis INSPIRATION ('Zoin') - A scented hardy, non-climbing semi-herbaceous hybrid from a cross of Clematis integrifolia 'Rosea' and Clematis 'Warsawska Nike' by Wim Snoeijer in Holland. Striking bright pink flowers up to 8cm (3ins) across with attractive wavy margins to the 'gappy' tepals and contrasting stamens in the centre.
Free flowering between June and September and reaching, with supports, to about 1.7m (5ft).



Clematis 'Michelle' - An unusual and facinating herbaceous clematis, probably from a cross of Clematis fusca and Clematis integrifolia 'Pastel Blue' by Robin Savill. The interesting, nodding flowers have fleshy, indigo, recurved tepals about 5cm (2ins) long with pronounced white margins.
A hardy scented, non-climber with stems up to 1.5m (5ft) long, which flower magnificently from May to September and is a 'show-stopper' for any visitor to the garden.
Clematis 'Aotearoa' - One of the most floriferous deep violet/purple clematis; bred by Alister Keay in New Zealand, of which Aotearoa is the Maori name; flowering from July to Sept/October. Profuse flowers up to 12.5cm (5ins) across and climbs to 3m (10ft).
This was not sufficiently different from other 'blue' clematis to achieve Certificate of Merit but will make a great display in the garden and was recommended by the judges.



Awards for 2002
A single award has been given for the year 2002.  The Certificate of Merit is awarded to Clematis 'Emilia Plater'.
(Ref. Page 51 of 'The Clematis' BCS Spring Journal 2003)


Clematis
'Emilia Plater'
was raised by Brother Stefan Franczak, an 85 year old Polish monk, who has been collecting, growing and breeding clematis hybrids for over 40 years.  He has raised and introduced over 30 varieties, many of which are grown widely in the UK, including C 'Blekitny Aniol' (BLUE ANGEL), C 'Kardynal Wyszynski' (often labelled 'Cardinal Wyszynski' in the UK), C 'Warszawska Nike' ('Warsaw Nike'), C 'Westerplatte' and the very popular C 'Polish Spirit' AGM.
Clematis 'Emilia Plater' is named after a 25 year old heroine who was killed in the Polish uprising of 1830 against the Russian occupation.

Clematis 'Emilia Plater' is a cultivar of the viticella group, which flowers from mid- to late-summer, with mid-blue/violet tepals that have a darker central bar and veining and creamy/green anthers.  It is a fully hardy, vigorous climber up to 10 feet that should be hard pruned in early spring (Group 3) and is an excellent, wilt-resistant garden plant.


Awards for 2001

Two cultivars were awarded a Certificate of Merit for 2001.
(Ref. Page 51 of 'The Clematis' BCS Spring Journal 2002)

Clematis 'Pink Ice' was raised by Malcolm Oviatt-Ham in 1995 from C integrifolia and C 'Royal Velours' at his wholesale nursery in Willingham, near Cambridge. C 'Pink Ice' is a non-clinging, Group 3 plant that can grow to 1.5m (5ft) through support. It has abundant, unusual, deep-pink blooms showing slightly twisted, well-separated tepals, and flowers from late June to September. Tests in the USA and Sweden suggest that 'Pink Ice' is frost hardy. In addition to the BCS Certificate of Merit, the cultivar was awarded the Valarasen-Toomey medal. As a recently bred cultivar, C 'Pink Ice' is not yet generally available.



Clematis montana
'Jacqui' was introduced in 1998 by Pennel's Nursery in South Hykeham near Lincoln. It was grown from a seedling found by Jacqui Williams when she was working at Priorswood Clematis in Hertfordshire.

A striking, vigorous and disease-resistant C. montana, 'Jacqui' can grow to over 6m (20ft) and is absolutely covered with pinkish buds that open to semi-double, pink-tinged, white flowers with yellow centres. This is an outstanding, Group 1, slightly-scented montana flowering from April to late June which is now widely available from specialist nurseries.



Awards for 2000
This year two cultivars were outstanding.
(Ref. page 91 of 'The Clematis' BCS Journal 2000)

The first was Clematis 'Vostok', which was raised by Mr M. L. Orlov of the Central Republic Botanic Gardens of the Ukranian Academy of Sciences in Kiev. The flowers are large reddish purple and the flowering time is between July and September. Although this cultivar was raised in 1963, it has only recently been introduced to Britain. The judges decided that C. 'Vostok' was worthy of the Valarasan-Toomey Medal and the BCS Certificate of Merit.

The second cultivar is Clematis 'Anita', a selected seedling of C. potaninii var. fargesii raised at the nursery of Rinus Zwijenburg in Holland. The small, semi-nodding white flowers unfurl from creamy yellow buds and the flowering time is between July and September. The judges felt C. 'Anita' was slightly let down by rather straggly growth habit and while deserving of a Certificate of Merit failed to reach the standard for the top award.
Following the award ceremony, the judges decided that they should "recommend" to members any other cultivar that they believed would be of particular interest to them. Clematis 'Pendragon' was entered for trial by Mr Robin Savill. It is a crispa-viticella hybrid, which was raised by Mr Denis Bradshaw and named by Mr Savill. The flowers, similar in shape to those of C. 'Etoile Rose', are small, nodding and reddish purple in colour. The judges concluded that the plant, although it failed to reach the standard for an award, exhibited possibilities for inclusion in a breeding programme and may well yield some interesting plants for the future. Some members may find C. 'Pendragon' interesting to grow.


Awards for 1999

The year was not one that will be remembered with much pleasure by gardeners in Eastern England. Due to the vagaries of the weather the level of disease seemed to have been higher than we would normally have expected. Those of us that grow roses and clematis saw levels of mildew at an all time high. Any clematis that came through 1999 relatively unscathed is entitled to be called exceptional.

Only one cultivar was selected at the 1999 trials, described as "a confection of bright yellow open flowers and fresh green foliage with silvery seed-heads". This description refers to Clematis 'Kugotia' (Tangutica Group), Tradename: Clematis GOLDEN TIARA™. The judges were unaminous in their verdict. The plant had already received an Award of Merit and a First Class Certificate from the Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society in Holland.
(Ref. page 97 of 'The Clematis' BCS Journal 1999)

Clematis GOLDEN TIARA™, as it is commonly known, was raised in Holland by Mr. H.J.M. Kuijf from Uithoorn. It was submitted for trialling by Mr. John Fopma, the well-known and highly respected Dutch nurseryman. This is an outstanding plant, not just another yellow tangutica, but a plant that will light up your garden.


Awards for 1998
In 1998, the BCS awarded its Certificate of Merit to four cultivars.
Below are the four prize winners.
(Ref. page 81 of 'The Clematis' BCS Journal 1998)

Clematis montana 'Broughton Star'
This is a quite unique Clematis montana, with lovely pink, semi-double flowers and beautiful bronze foliage. Raised by Vince and Sylvia Denny, who were also awarded the Fame Check Cup, as the top breeder on the UK mainland.


Clematis 'Romantika'
This is a very robust, late flowering variety, with dark violet flowers, suitable for any aspect in the garden. The plant was raised by the late Estonian breeder Uno Kivistik, who sadly died earlier in 1998, before receiving his award.




Clematis 'Alionushka'
This is a herbaceous cultivar that can grow, with support, to 2m tall or more in any aspect. This is a beautiful plant, with rose pink flowers with fleshy, often twisted, sepals. Raised by A. N. Volosenko-Valenis and M. A. Beskaravainaja of the Nikitsky Botanic Gardens, Crimea.







Clematis PETIT FAUCON™ 'Evisix' (N)
This is another herbaceous cultivar and a little gem from Raymond Evison. The cultivar has semi nodding flowers of deep violet purple, with yellow anthers. It grows to 1m tall and is suitable for any garden aspect.



 

                      | Top of Page | Home Page |    © 2017 British Clematis Society