Large deep pink flowers with paler central bar, darker margins and yellow anthers. Single or semi-double. This Japanese variety was introduced into the UK early in the 1980s. Asao used to be a popular lady's name in Japanese high society; it is also the name of the town where its breeder lives.

Group:	Early large-flowered group
Approximate height:	2.0 - 3.0 metres
Flowering period(s):	May Jun Aug Sep
Aspect:	Any aspect
USDA zones:	4 5 6 7 8 9
Pruning:	Light prune (Group 2)
Raised by:	Kasushige Ozawa
Country of origin:	Japan
Date raised:	1971
Parentage:	'Ernest Markham' x 'Star of India (Japanese type)
Other name(s):	None known
Further detail:  Flower diameter: 12-20cm Tepals: (5-) 6-8, broadly lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, pointed Click here for the text of an IClS article about this clematis Database entry: 34