Magazine  (16 Dec 1868)  Page(s) plate 394.  
 
Clematis, John Gould Veitch.
There is not among our many fine hardy climbing plants one that has of late years received more attention, or been more enriched by new additions, than the Clematis.  The introduction from Japan of those two fine varieties, Standishii and Fortunei, and then the very successful operations of Messrs. Jackman and Son with Clematis lanuginosa and others, have led to results which we have already noticed in the 'Floral Magazine'.  As trailing plants, too, they have been very extensively used; and although we have not ourselves had, as yet, the opportunity of seeing them so used, we can well believe that they must be effective, especially as the colour is one in which we are very deficient in bedding plants.
The plant which we now figure evidently is closely allied to Clematis Fortunei, and will make a most desirable variety, intermixed with the darker kinds, such as C. Jackmanii and Prince of Wales.  And, again, we have in such kinds as Lady Bovill, large lavender-coloured flowers, with broad and slightly cupped petals, which are especially showy, so that it is impossible to imagine anything more beautiful than a trellis on which these flowers were trained, either separately or intermixed.  With regard to this variety, we are indebted to the Messrs. Veitch and Sons for the following account of it:
"We cannot too strongly recommend this magnificent double blue-flowering Clematis as a most valuable addition to our hardy climbers.  It is a profuse bloomer, the flowers being very double, of a large size (averaging four inches in diameter), and of a beautiful light blue colour.  It thrives remarkably well when planted out-of-doors, and when grown in pots it is most striking and very free blooming, plants grown by us this spring having had as many as fourteen beautiful blooms expanded at one time.  It was imported direct from Japan, and will doubtless be most extensively grown.
"We exhibited this splendid plant at the International Exhibition at Paris in 1867, and again at the International Exhibition held at Ghent in March, 1868, as well as at the Royal Horticultural ociety's Show, held April 21st, 1868.
"It was universally admired, and considered one of the best and most striking novelties of recent introduction, and it invariably received the highest possible awards."