Ask the Gardener

OVER the coming weeks the pale pink flowers of Clematis montana rubens will be seen climbing up walls, scrambling over arches and bringing a splash of delicate colour to the spring garden.

Montana is just one of the many species available in this large family of climbing, deciduous or evergreen plants. Clematis are ideal for covering walls, fences and unsightly outbuildings, or also for scrambling over pergolas, old trees and arches to create that cottage garden effect. They are grown for their spectacular flowers which come in a variety of shapes and sizes, they can be big and showy or small and delicately scented. They range in colour from white to pink, blue, purple, red and yellow. Clematis are usually divided into 3 groups depending on their flowering season.

* Group 1: Flower anytime from the start of the year to late spring.