Clematis 'Veronicas Choice'

Clematis 'Veronica's Choice' was raised within English breeder Walter Pennell's productive breeding programme in Lincolnshire, who crossed it from 'Vyvyan Pennell' and 'Percy Lake' in 1963 and named it after his second daughter. Its large flowers with waved sepal edges open double at first, in a very soft lavender that shades almost into white and is sometimes gently flushed with pink, set off by creamy-yellow stamens.

At around 200 cm, 'Veronica's Choice' suits trellises, obelisks and other supports well and can equally be grown in containers. The first double flowers appear in June on the previous year's wood, followed in July and August by single flowers on the new growth. It does best in a sunny to semi-shaded spot with well-drained, evenly moist soil.

'Veronica's Choice' is reliably winter-hardy (zone 6, down to about -23 °C). Cut it back to about 75 cm in June after the first flowering so vigorous new shoots can develop the second, single flush. With this care it will reward you for years with its unusual double-flowering display.