Early-summer-flowering clematis

These clematis bear large, star-shaped flowers, mostly in shades of white, lilac-pink and blue-purple. A number of popular cultivars, like ‘Nelly Moser’ and ‘John Warren’ have distinctive striped petals, while double forms, like ‘Arctic Queen’ have a central mass of petals. Most grow to between 2-4m high, with smaller-growing cultivars like ‘Bees’ Jubilee’ making good container plants.

These clematis will grow best in deep, fertile, moist but well-drained soil. Most will grow happily in full sun or partial shade, though double forms are often best in sun.

Clematis won’t thrive in very wet soils, nor poor soils that dry out in summer. They dislike their roots getting too hot, so plant the base of the clematis in light shade or provide shading with other plants or a dressing of pebbles. Flowering will be poor in a very shady spot.

The showy flowers of double forms, which have multiple layers of petals, appeared originally as natural mutations on single-flowered hybrids.