Clematis 'Countess of Lovelace'

Clematis 'Countess of Lovelace' is one of the oldest clematis cultivars still available: the English nursery George Jackman & Son raised it around 1871 from a cross between 'Sophia Plena' and a Jackmanii hybrid. Its 10-15 cm flowers open double in early summer, in a delicate pale blue with layered petals; single flowers with six narrow tepals and creamy stamens follow in late summer.

At around 200 cm, 'Countess of Lovelace' suits trellises, lattices and obelisks well and also thrives in containers. The first, double flush appears in June on the previous year's wood, while the single second flush shows from July to September on new growth — a typical trait of the early large-flowered hybrids. It prefers a sunny to semi-shaded spot with a shaded root zone; as the heavy early flowers put real weight on the stems, sturdy support pays off.

'Countess of Lovelace' is reliably winter-hardy (zone 6, down to about -23 °C). Cut the plant back to about 75 cm after the first flowering in June to encourage the second flush. Give it two to three years to establish — then this historic variety shows its full splendour.