SOCIAL CLIMBERS

THE vivid flowers of hybrid clematis such as Nelly Moser and The President look great in spring but many of the species – originals types that have not been mixed – are perfect for keeping the garden colourful into autumn.

From around the world, they are capering climbers often romping up to 6m (20ft) and ideal for covering trellises, arches and garden eyesores.

Despite their vigour, all tolerate pruning to keep them within bounds, best carried out after flowering.

Clematis ternifolia is a sun-lover from Japan, spreading a wide curtain of deep green leaves, sometimes with silver stripes, and masses of small, white, scented flowers.

Clematis tangutica, also a rampant climber, produces plentiful yellow, lanternshaped flowers with elegant, curving petals from summer to late autumn.

The silver, fluffy seedheads (pictured) give the plant an added attraction throughout autumn and into winter.

Another rampant grower, clematis rehderiana, originally from China, produces delicate pale yellow bells with a light scent.

Clematis flammula, known as the virgin’s bower, is from the Mediterranean and needs shelter until it is established.

Then it can race away and become a star of late summer, ideal for an arch or pergola where its numerous creamy-white blossoms scent the air with their almond fragrance into autumn.

Species like these can be followed by two winter beauties:

Clematis armandii has long, glossy leaves all year and scented white blooms in the teeth of winter, while clematis cirrhosa “Freckles” flowers from mid-winter even in the bitterest weather, opening cream, lantern-like flowers smothered in russet markings with golden stamens.

Clematis alpina flowers mainly in spring and early summer but also produces late summer and autumn blooms.