Clematis tibetana subsp. tangutica

Clematis tibetana subsp. tangutica is a hardy wild species from the high mountains of Tibet and western China; the closely related, often equated species Clematis tangutica is native from north-west India to western China and was introduced to Europe from China in 1898. From July to August it bears golden-yellow, nodding, lantern- to bell-shaped flowers with four tepals on slender, drooping stalks, 4 to 5 cm across.

After the main summer flush, a good second flowering often follows into autumn, before the flowers turn into silky, silvery seedheads that remain decorative well into winter. At around 300 cm, the plant suits trellises, fences, pergolas and loose supports in sun to partial shade; it copes well with poor, dry soils but dislikes heavy, waterlogged ground.

The subspecies is reliably hardy (zone 5, down to about -28.8 to -23.4 °C). Cut it back hard to about 25 cm in March (pruning group 3); after flowering you can thin it out further if needed. As new growth starts rather late in spring, be patient after pruning before it puts on vigorous growth again.