What varieties are my clematis and rose?
Christine James, by email
Stefan says: You have inherited these plants with your garden and would like to know what they are. It’s never easy to be certain with photographs because the colours may not be quite true, but I'll give you my best educated guesses.
I think the clematis is one of two southern European species I’ve grown. Because you describe it as very pale lilac, I think it’s Clematis campaniflora, a species that grows wild in Portugal. There’s a selected form called ‘Lisboa’ with slightly larger flowers, but I prefer the original. The only other possibility is the related Clematis flammula but its flowers are usually pure white.
Now for your rose. I feel on safe ground in identifying this as Rosa glauca, formerly known as Rosa rubrifolia, which means red leaves. It’s the mauve colour of the foliage, as well as the characteristic flowers, that is the giveaway.