Clematis 'Sundance'

Clematis 'Sundance' was introduced around 1994 by Valley Clematis Nursery in England. It is a hybrid of Clematis ispahanica and an undocumented form from the Tangutica group's circle. Its 3–4 cm flowers appear in cream; at first they carry a pale primrose-yellow tinge. The four narrow tepals curve outwards, and the stamens are dark.

'Sundance' flowers from June to August and reaches about 200 cm in height. It grows upright and more shrubby than climbing, and its fine, blue-green foliage looks almost bamboo-like. It is happy in a sunny to part-shaded position and needs little water in summer. Against a dark background the pale flowers show to particular advantage. After flowering, silvery-white seed-heads develop that often draw more attention than the delicate flowers themselves.

'Sundance' is hardy (zone 5, about -28.8 to -23.4 °C). Cut the plant back to about 25 cm in March; this encourages vigorous growth and a generous display of flowers.