The Max Walters Memorial Lecture - Raymond Evison ‘Clematis: Past, Present and Future’
A fantastic talk by renowned Clematis grower and breeder and long time friend of Plant Heritage, Raymond Evison CBE VMH FLS FCI Hort. This promises to be a highly informative and fascinating lecture for anyone who loves plants or history - one not to be missed.
| Event Start Date | Saturday, 15 November 2025 2.00pm |
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| Event End Date | Saturday, 15 November 2025 5.00pm |
| Cost | Tickets (in advance only) £12 for Plant Heritage members & students, £15 for visitors. Ample free parking & disabled parking available. Price includes coffee/tea and biscuits |
| Event Location |
William Collyn Centre, Wellbrook Way Girton, Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB3 0GP |
| Event Contact | Rosemary Buisseret |
| Contact | ppsrjb@gmail.com |
Clematis 'Elpis'™ EviGsy154 (PBR), Clematis 'Bridgewater'™ EviGsy155 (PBR), Clematis 'Guernsey Flute'™ EviGsy153 (PBR)
© Raymond Evison
Raymond Evison is well known as a global expert on Clematis, who also produces stunning exhibits to engage the public. His nursery won its 35th Gold Medal at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show and best exhibit in the Great Pavilion. He is founder and chairman of The Guernsey Clematis Nursery Ltd (Production Company) and Raymond Evison Ltd (Breeding and Development Company).
Raymond was a founding member on the council of Plant Heritage (then known as the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens - NCCPG). He also served on the RHS Council with Dr Max Walters, so it's very fitting that he's giving this year's Max Walters lecture. Max was also a founder member of Plant Heritage, the first President of the Cambridgeshire Group and former Director of the Cambridge University Botanic Garden.
The lecture will cover the early introduction of clematis species from Europe from the 16th century onwards and then more importantly the Chinese clematis species that were the parents of our modern day large flowered hybrids. Raymond has been visiting China since 1981 where half of the 300 Clematis species in the world are native. He will include the breeding work of the 19th and 20th Centuries before focusing on his own breeding and development work during the late 20th century and early 21st century and the use of these plants in the gardens of today. He will conclude with his current work in China and what the garden Clematis might look like in the future.
Raymond is Vice President of The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), an Hon. Fellow of the Kew Guild, President of The Guernsey Botanical Trust LBG.
The beautiful photos above (credit R Evison) speak to the quality of his breeding: the red flower is Clematis 'Elpis'™ EviGsy154 (PBR) which was launched at the 2025 RHS Chelsea Flower Show and shortlisted for the Chelsea plant of the year. The deep pink is Clematis 'Bridgewater'™ EviGsy155 (PBR) also launched at this year's Chelsea and named for the new RHS Garden near Manchester. The white is Clematis 'Guernsey Flute'™ EviGsy153 (PBR) and was launched at Chelsea Flower Show in 2024.