Clematis 'John Treasure'

Clematis of the Month for July 2026

Described by Richard Hodson

Clematis 'John Treasure'

Mr. John Treasure was born in Church Stretton in the UK in 1911. In 1954 his family bought Burford House at Tenbury Wells in Worcestershire, and then they created the famous nursery there, Treasures of Tenbury.

This nursery raised many new varieties of clematis, some now very difficult to find. Their list of new cultivars includes some really exciting varieties, including

• C. 'Burford Bell'
• C. 'Burford Princess'
• C. 'Burford Variety' (tangutica)
• C. 'Burford White' (atragene)
• C. 'Pagoda'
• C. 'Danae'
• C. 'Fireworks'
• C. 'Royalty'
• C. 'Shropshire Blue'
• C. 'White Columbine'
• C. 'Annie Treasure'
and, of course,

• C. 'John Treasure'

Clematis 'John Treasure' (Viticella Group) was introduced by Treasures of Tenbury in 1999, almost 6 years after the death of Mr. John Treasure.

It is a wonderful, vigorous, cultivar, a climber to about 4 metres (12 ft.), summer flowering, no vices, group 3, just prune hard in winter and it will soon refurbish in spring.

It is a wonderful, vigorous, cultivar

The flowers are fascinating, quite large, recurved, and plenty of them. The flower shape is very much a reminder that the parentage is Viticella group C. 'Pagoda' × unknown.

John Treasure

[Editor's note: More than thirty years ago, in fact in September 1992, Fiona and I visited Burford House and Gardens at Tenbury with a group from the British Clematis Society. John Treasure came out on to the lawns to meet us. He used an electric wheelchair to get around, which wasn't easy on grass, but he managed. I saw him in earnest conversation with Sylvia Denny and took a shot. I don't know what they were talking about, but it appeared to be something that amused them both.

John Treasure died in December 1993. He left a great legacy for the clematis world from which we still benefit.]

Richard Hodson

Hawthornes Clematis Nursery
Marsh Road
Hesketh Bank
Nr.Preston
Lancs
PR4 6XT
National Collection Holders for Clematis Viticella, Viorna, and Texensis Groups.