Clematis ‘Sweet Summer Love’
Best fragrant climber for gardeners seeking long-lasting, low-maintenance vertical color.
Clematis ‘Sweet Summer Love’ offers a delightful display of violet-red flowers that mature to a rich purple, creating a beautiful bi-color effect. This climbing vine, reaching 10-15 feet in height, is a less aggressive alternative to ‘Sweet Autumn’ clematis, making it a friendly addition to trellises and fences. It thrives in full sun to part shade and is hardy in zones 4-9. The plant attracts hummingbirds and boasts a sweet, cherry-vanilla fragrance, blooming from midsummer through fall. Its lush growth and attractive seed heads add interest even after the blooms fade.
$22.99
Owner Satisfaction
4.6
/ 5
Category Rank
864
/ 3268
#864 in Landscaping & Garden Plants
Price vs Category Average
-17%
Below average
Plant Type
Perennial
/ Perennial
Who it's for
- Gardeners seeking a fragrant, sensory outdoor experience
- Homeowners wanting long-lasting color throughout the warmer months
- Landscapers needing fast-growing coverage for vertical structures
Who should skip it
- Beginners intimidated by specific seasonal maintenance requirements
- Budget-conscious gardeners avoiding extra infrastructure costs
- Owners of small gardens with limited space for sprawling vines
Performance breakdown
Fragrance potency
Cherry-vanilla notes provide a distinct, sweet sensory experience in the garden.
Pollinator appeal
Reliably draws hummingbirds and butterflies throughout the long blooming season.
Growth manageability
Less aggressive than traditional varieties, making it easier to train.
Hardiness range
Robust performance across a wide variety of climate zones.
Pest resistance
Strong natural defense against common garden nuisances like deer and rabbits.
Visual longevity
Attractive seed heads maintain landscape interest well after the flowers fade.
Key Specs
Plant Type
Perennial
Hardiness Zone
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Max Height
10 – 15 Feet
Max Spread
2 – 3 Feet
Exposure
Full Sun, Part Shade
Blooms On
Last Year’s Growth, This Year’s Growth
Soil Moisture Needs
Moderate, Moist
Growth Habit
Climbing
Features
- Produces colorful violet-red flowers that age to purple.
- Features a sweet cherry vanilla fragrance.
- Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.
- Resistant to deer and rabbits.
- Suitable for containers, trellises, or walls.
- Blooms from midsummer through fall.
- Climbing growth habit.
What customers say
Customers consistently praise Clematis ‘Sweet Summer Love’ for its remarkable ease of growth and prolific, long lasting bloom display. Many gardeners, even novices, find it thrives with minimal effort, quickly establishing itself and covering trellises or fences. Its reliable performance, delivering a continuous cascade of fragrant flowers throughout summer, makes it a highly valued addition to diverse garden settings, exceeding expectations for beauty and low maintenance.
Know before you buy
While 'Sweet Autumn' is known for being an aggressive grower that can become invasive in some regions, 'Sweet Summer Love' is much more manageable. It offers a similar climbing habit and fragrance but with a more controlled growth rate and a distinct violet-red color profile.
Yes, because it is a climbing vine that reaches 10 to 15 feet, it needs a sturdy support like a trellis, fence, or arbor. Ensure the structure is securely anchored to handle the weight of the vine once it reaches maturity.
Since this clematis blooms on both old and new wood, you have flexibility. It is best to prune it in early spring just as the new buds begin to swell, removing any dead or weak growth to encourage a fuller, more vigorous display.
This variety is hardy in zones 4 through 9, meaning it can withstand cold winters down to zone 4 temperatures. It is a perennial, so it will go dormant in the winter and return with new growth each spring.
Yes, it is suitable for containers, provided you use a large pot with adequate drainage and a tall trellis for the vine to climb. Keep in mind that container-grown plants require more frequent watering and may need extra winter protection in colder climates.
While no plant is completely immune to wildlife, 'Sweet Summer Love' is generally avoided by deer and rabbits. Its foliage is not a preferred food source for them, making it a reliable choice for gardens where these animals are common.
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Ask Hayley anything about this product before you decide.
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$23