Clematis 'Pixie'

Clematis 'Pixie' was bred in 1986 by British nurseryman Graham Hutchins from a cross of Clematis petriei 'Princess' and Clematis marmoraria, and named in 1987 – one of the so-called Hutchins' Country Park hybrids from the rare Forsteri Group, whose origins lie in New Zealand. The small, star-shaped flowers appear in pale green with cream anthers on green filaments and give off a delicate scent reminiscent of elderflower.

'Pixie' flowers from April to May, and with a height of around 100 cm it stays pleasantly compact, making it particularly well suited to small gardens, containers and sunny, sheltered spots on a balcony or terrace. As a low-growing, evergreen clematis, it thrives best in free-draining, rather poor soil in a sunny to partly shaded position.

'Pixie' is only moderately hardy (zone 9, -6.6 to -1.2 °C) and therefore needs a sheltered position; in exposed sites, winter protection or container cultivation is recommended. For vigorous growth and abundant flowering, cut your Clematis 'Pixie' back to about 50 cm in June; once established, its compact, evergreen foliage makes for an attractive appearance all year round.