Clematis 'Dawn'

Clematis 'Dawn' traces back to a cross bred by the Swedish hybridiser Tage Lundell in 1960, most likely 'Moonlight' and 'Nelly Moser', and was introduced to the trade in 1969 by the English nursery Treasures of Tenbury — originally under the name 'Aurora', soon changed to 'Dawn' to avoid confusion with an older cultivar of the same name from the 1870s. The 10 to 15 cm flowers appear in delicate pale pink with a paler base; young blooms also carry a light pink flush with faint greenish stripes that fade over time, set off by striking purple stamens.

'Dawn' flowers twice a year: the main flush appears from May to June on last year's wood, with a second flush following from July to August on new growth. At around 200 cm, this compact, early-flowering hybrid suits trellises, climbing frames and obelisks in smaller to medium-sized gardens, and also does well in a container. Because its delicate flower colour fades faster in strong sun, it shows to best advantage in a sunny to semi-shaded spot — keep the roots and base of the plant cool and shaded.

'Dawn' is hardy to zone 6 (-23.3 to -17.8 °C) and copes well with harsher winters outdoors. Cut the stems back to about 75 cm after the first flowering in June to encourage compact growth and the second summer flush. As one of the earliest large-flowered hybrids, 'Dawn' is somewhat prone to clematis wilt, but reliably resprouts after a setback.