Clematis 'Baby Star'

Clematis 'Baby Star' (trade designation 'Zobast') was raised in 2003 by J. van Zoest BV in the Netherlands and named and introduced in 2011; that same year it won a bronze medal at Plantarium. Its small, flat flowers are white, measure 4-7 cm and carry cream-coloured filaments; the first flowers on an established plant may be double.

'Baby Star' flowers from May to June and shows a second flush from July to August. At around 150 cm tall it stays exceptionally compact and is therefore especially suited to a planter, but also as a companion to smaller shrubs or in front of climbing roses that are bare at the base. It thrives in sun or partial shade; against a darker background the pure white stands out at its best.

The variety is hardy (zone 6, down to approx. -23 °C). Cut 'Baby Star' back to about 50 cm in June after the first flowering (pruning group 2). The soil should be moisture-retentive and well drained; it is best to keep the root zone and the base of the plant cool and shaded.