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    'Duchess of Edinburgh' clematis Reviews & Comments
    most recent 6 JUN 13  
    ClematisDuchess of Edinburgh
    Initial post 3 MAR 13 by true-blue
    Hi,
    I haven't grown this clematis. But nothing in my research indicates a "strongly" fragrant clematis.
    Actually nothing indicates that it has any fragrance at all.

    I suspect it is an error.
    Could you please double check?
    Reply #1 posted 3 MAR 13 by jedmar
    Yes, there is an issue here. This clematis is described as none-to-mild fragrance in current nursery catalogues, but strongly fragrant in references from the 19th century. It seems that 'Duchess of Edinburgh' in commerce is possibly not the original.
    Reply #2 posted 8 APR 13 by true-blue
    Hi Jedmar,

    I found only on the below address, a very fragrant Duchess of Edinburgh.
    Here is the link:

    http://www.goodnessgrows.com/id260.html

    Maybe this is the plant mentioned in the 19th century catalogues?
    Reply #3 posted 8 APR 13 by jedmar
    Thank you for the link. The clematis looks the same as in the other photos. Sometimes nurseries just copy the information on HMF or in literature. The only way to know is to test oneself and report.
    Reply #4 posted 6 JUN 13 by true-blue
    Hi again Jedmar.
    I was reading the Scented Flora of the World by ROY GENDERS.
    at page 158, he mentions that the Duchess is a descendent of the Clematis fortunei.
    "The only variety, which has been given the fragrance of C. fortunei..."