It is an open pollinated hybrid that includes the fragrant C. flammula species. Flammula requires fast draining soil that is rather dry, never all that wet. Because of the C. flammula and x aromatica are usually short lived for me in the Midwest due to heavy spring rains unless you protect it from the overwatering it gets until about July.

My various C. flammula plants were or are much more fragrant that aromatica. The former's fragrance wafts around and is fairly strong for a clematis (though not as strong as, say, a honeysuckle). Aromatica required me to get up close.

There is another colored flammula hybrid called Sweet Summer Love that many say has a strong fragrance. I do not have it, but all reports point toward a good cultivar.

Hi Michael,

I confess, as I'd given up on this post, I did some research on Gardenbuddies where some people considered it a very fragrant clematis. So I was surprised of your feedback. That's really good to know. Thanks a lot.

I wasn't aware of the draining problem that it shares with it's cousin rubromarginata
Most of my garden soil is sandy soil, however, I've lost plants that like good drainage. One of my rubros, which was planted in sandy soil didn't survive, whereas the one which was planted in the "rich" soil survived and flowered last year. Anyway, I'll see this spring.

From what you say, I need to cover the plant during heavy rainfall, interesting. I hadn't though of that...

I planted Sweet summer love, last year, it was rather measly the poor plant. Hope it survives.