Clematis 'The Bride'

Clematis 'The Bride' was raised by the English nursery G. Jackman & Son and was already in trade before 1924 — one of the most traditional varieties among the patens hybrids. Like several other historic English cultivars, it was at one time lost to cultivation in Europe and returned by way of the New Zealand plant trade. Its 6–12 cm flowers open in pure white, usually with six, occasionally eight, pointed, slightly overlapping petals, and carry a delicate crown of pale yellow stamens.

Clematis 'The Bride' flowers from June to August and reaches a height of around 200 cm. The variety is excellent for obelisks, trellises and other supports, and thrives equally well in a large container. It can face any aspect — the only requirement is that the root area stays cool and shaded, for example with low-growing neighbouring plants or a layer of mulch.

'The Bride' is reliably winter-hardy (zone 6, down to about -23 °C) and easy to look after. After the first flowering, cut the plant back to about 100 cm in June; in early spring it is enough to remove dead and weak shoots. Like many heritage varieties, it needs a year or two to establish, but then reliably shows its elegant white flowers year after year.