Clematis 'Odoriba'

Clematis 'Odoriba' was bred in 1988 by Japanese breeder Kazushige Ozawa from a cross of Clematis viorna and Clematis crispa – two North American wild species. Its name means 'dancing place' in Japanese. The bell-shaped, gently nodding flowers are 4–5 cm across, purple with white accents, with four recurved petals and greenish-yellow stamens.

From June to August, 'Odoriba' produces its elegant bells in abundance. At around 300 cm, it is ideal for trellises, obelisks, trellage or pergolas, and combines well with other climbers. Choose a sunny to partly shaded spot – keep the roots and lower stems cool and shaded, for example with low companion plants or a layer of gravel.

'Odoriba' is reliably hardy (zone 5, down to about -28°C). As a pruning group 3 variety, cut it back hard to about 25 cm in March – this encourages dense new growth and abundant flowering. Give it time to establish after planting, and it will develop into a reliable, low-maintenance climber.