Clematis Dorothy Tolver

The fabulous, vibrant deep mauve-pink blooms have a satin sheen and the early flowers are occasionally semi-double. A prolific and strong growing plant, ideal for beginners.
Named after my lovely Nanny without whom Thorncroft Clematis would not exist today.  The clematis was bred at Thorncroft Clematis Nursery by my father Jon Gooch and grandfather Geoffrey and introduced by us in 1993.
Nanny taught me a lot about the plants without knowing it. I would sit with her in the shop and help serve customers at the weekend and hear all she told them about care and how to plant or what to grow them with. It all went in but I never realised I was learning until many years later, when I would find my own passion for the plant which would bring all I had taken in from her, to the forefront of my mind.
The clematis Dorothy Tolver and the Geoffrey Tolver make up our logo. Read more about that here - The Story of our Logo.
Dorothy Tolver and the shop we spent so much time in together. Keep selling Nanny.!

Cultivation Advice.

Large flowered clematis prefer a good quality soil with high nutrient levels and a soil which is moist but free-draining. Improve planting holes with at least 2 forkfuls of well rotted manure or garden compost and if you don't have these use a 'Soil Improver' compost. The Improvement material added should be placed under the root of the plant not around it. This encourages the roots to grow downwards and remain deep and cool during summer. If your clematis flowers in May-June(late spring), cut the dead flower heads when they have finished to encourage a second set of flowers to be produced in the late summer and autumn. Be prepared to wait for a couple of years before they will be at their best - Our saying is - 1st year = Roots, 2nd year = Shoots, 3rd year = Flowers!