Clematis angustifolia

Clematis angustifolia is a wild species from East Asia: its natural range stretches from China and Mongolia through Korea and Manchuria to eastern Siberia. Botanically it is also listed under the name Clematis hexapetala and is closely related to Clematis recta. Its simple white flowers measure about 3 cm across and show narrow, slightly wavy sepals, from whose centre yellow anthers glow on greenish-white filaments. They give off a delicate scent.

The plant opens its flowers from May to July. At about 75 cm tall it stays manageable and grows as a herbaceous perennial rather than a tall climber – its stems appreciate discreet support or the chance to weave through neighbouring plants. That lets it fit into perennial borders, wild perennial plantings and rose beds. It thrives in sunny to partly shaded spots.

'angustifolia' is reliably winter-hardy (zone 5, -28.8 to -23.4 °C). Cut the plant back to about 20 cm in March; it then reshoots vigorously from the rootstock. Do not clear away old stems in autumn, but only when new growth starts in spring. We supply it in a 2-litre pot with strong shoots; give it one to two years after planting to establish.