PLANT OF THE WEEK

I had the honour of presenting Duke of Edinburgh awards to a series of inspiring young people on occasions at both Buckingham Palace and St James’s Palace, and would like to remember the Duke and his work through this week’s chosen plant.

This beautiful large-flowered clematis has big, wavy-edged violet flowers in early summer and sometimes again in September. Grow in full sun in well-drained fertile soil and it will reach up to three metres in height.

Give a generous dollop of mulch in spring and a slow-release fertiliser to encourage the big blossoms.

Avoid heavy pruning in spring or you will lose the flowers.