Clematis 'Hagley Hybrid'

Percy Picton raised Clematis 'Hagley Hybrid' around 1945 while serving as head gardener at Hagley Hall in the West Midlands, near Stourbridge – the variety takes its name from the estate that gave it its distinctive history. Jim Fisk introduced it to the market in 1956. Its forebears descended from seeds of clematis growing at the famous Gravetye Manor, where Ernest Markham was head gardener; Percy Picton himself had previously worked for William Robinson at Gravetye for fifteen years. The flowers unfurl from elegant buds: four to six pointed, saucer-shaped sepals open in a delicate shell-pink with a silvery shimmer, beautifully offset by dark brown, almost chocolate-coloured stamens. At 10–12 cm in diameter, the blooms rank among the larger late large-flowered cultivars. As the season progresses, they fade to a uniquely soft, pastel tone – in North America the variety is therefore sold as 'Pink Chiffon™'.

From June to August, 'Hagley Hybrid' produces an abundance of blooms, bringing weeks of pleasure to your garden. Reaching up to 300 cm, it is well suited to fences, trellises, pergolas, obelisks and low-growing shrubs or conifers over which it climbs gracefully. Thanks to its fairly compact, bushy habit, it also performs excellently in containers – perfect for patios and shaded garden corners. The pale flowers show to particularly good effect against a dark background. A true shade specialist, 'Hagley Hybrid' can even be planted against a cold north-facing wall; however, avoid full midday sun, as the flower colour will fade in strong light.

'Hagley Hybrid' is reliably winter-hardy to Zone 6 (−23.3 to −17.8 °C) and performs well even in exposed positions. In March, cut the stems back to around 50 cm, removing any dead or damaged growth; this encourages vigorous new shoots and a generous flush of flowers. The variety is renowned for being easy to grow and robust, making it an ideal choice for beginners – it is no coincidence that the Royal Horticultural Society awarded it the prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1984. Keep the base of the plant and its roots cool and shaded by planting slightly deeper or covering the root zone with gravel or flat stones.