Clematis 'Grace'

The clematis 'Grace' was raised in 1925 by the Canadian breeder Frank Skinner from a cross between Clematis serratifolia and Clematis ligusticifolia and introduced in 1939. For a long time it was presumed lost, until in 1998 a plant from the Netherlands resurfaced through an international chain of horticulturists. Its 3 to 4 cm flowers are cream-coloured and face outwards, with four tepals whose tips are recurved; red-purple stamens set a fine contrast in the centre.

From August to September 'Grace' flowers on a climber that reaches about 400 cm. It suits trellises, pergolas and fences and prefers a sunny to partially shaded position. In autumn, decorative seedheads follow the flowers.

'Grace' is very hardy (zone 5, down to −28.8 °C). As a pruning group 3 clematis it flowers on the current year's growth; cut it back hard to about 25 cm in March.