Clematis 'Lady Northcliffe' (EL)
clematis 'Lady Northcliffe'
'Lady Northcliffe' is a climber 1.5-3m high with green leaves and flowers 10-15cm across, composed of usually six overlapping, wide, broadly elliptic, wavy-edged sepals, rich violet-blue at first then fading to mid lavender-blue, and creamy stamens, from midsummer to early autumn and sometimes later; many clematis are visited by bees for pollen, and some also provide nectar
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Size
Ultimate height
2.5–4 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.5–1 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Blue Purple | Green | ||
| Autumn | Blue Purple | Green | ||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
North–facing or West–facing or South–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H6Botanical details
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Climbing
- Potentially harmful
- Skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
- Genus
Clematis can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs or herbaceous perennials, mostly climbing by twining leaf-stalks, and often with showy flowers. Some have attractive fluffy seedheads in autumn
- Name status
Accepted
- Horticultural Group
- Early Large-flowered clematis have large star-shaped flowers in early summer, often with a second flowering in late summer
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in full sun or partial shade in containers (at least 45cm deep and wide) or in the ground, in cool, moisture-retentive, well-drained soil, with the crown 5-8cm deep to encourage new shoots to grow from below ground level; keep the base of the plant and the roots cool and shaded by other plants or a layer of pebbles or flat stones; for more advice, see clematis cultivation
Propagation
Propagate by internodal leaf-bud semi-ripe cuttings taken from spring to late summer, or by layering from late winter to spring
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Patio and container plants
- Cottage and informal garden
- Flower borders and beds
- Hedging and screens
- Wall side borders
Pruning
Pests
May be susceptible to aphids, snails and caterpillars; petals may be eaten by earwigs
Diseases
May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), clematis wilt and clematis slime flux
Get involved
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