Clematis 'Tae'

Clematis 'Tae' was introduced in 2009 by Japanese breeder Ren Tanaka. Its large, star-shaped flowers reach 15 to 20 cm across and display eight narrow, pointed tepals in pure white that shade into a delicate pale violet towards the margins. Deep purple stamens on cream-coloured filaments create a striking contrast at the centre of each flower.

The lush first flush of flowers appears from May to June, followed by a reliable rebloom in late summer between August and September. Reaching a height of 200 to 250 cm, 'Tae' is ideally suited to climbing fences, trellises and supporting shrubs, and grows just as well in generously sized containers. In a sunny to partly shaded position with its roots kept shaded, the variety develops its full flowering potential.

'Tae' is reliably hardy (zone 4, -34.4 to -28.9 °C) and copes well even with harsh winters. As a Group 2 clematis, a light prune to around 100 cm in June is recommended; no pruning is needed in spring. This keeps the plant's compact habit and ensures reliable flowering year after year.