Clematis 'Amber'

Clematis chiisanensis 'Amber' delights with nodding, bell-shaped flowers in bright yellow, appearing singly or in small groups on the trailing stems and reaching about 5 cm across. This alpine clematis belongs to the Clematis alpina and atragene group, known for its dainty bell flowers and early start to flowering.

'Amber' shows a double flowering season: the main flush in April and May, a second, smaller one from July to September. At 200 to 250 cm tall, it climbs vigorously on trellises, arches and supports and also works well as a flowering screen; it thrives in any aspect, from sun to part shade, and prefers well-drained soil.

The variety is exceptionally hardy (zone 4, down to about -34 °C) and copes easily with harsh winters. Pruning back to about 100 cm in June keeps the plant compact and encourages the second flush; a simple tidy-up right after the main bloom is generally enough for this early-flowering group.