Clematis cirrhosa ‘Jingle Bells’

Clematis cirrhosa is a native of several countries that border the Mediterranean and the species is not always hardy in Britain.  Clematis breeders have done a lot of work selecting hardy forms and in the 1990s introduced this cultivar.  It has flowers the colour of buttermilk that smother the whole plant throughout the winter.   The dark-green glossy foliage provides a perfect background to the flowers.  As the life is draining out of the rest of the garden, out pop the buds and flowers of this clematis as a reminder that the whole cycle will soon begin again.

This cultivar was raised by Robin Savill from seed of C. cirrhosa ‘Freckles’.  It needs rich, well drained soil in sun or part-shade.