Clematis Mrs George Jackman

Clematis 'Mrs George Jackman' is a climbing perennial that is covered with large elegant flowers up to 18 cm (7in) in diameter, satin cream-white crowned with a light yellow centre and coffee-coloured stamens. This climbing perennial develops long stems with deciduous bright green foliage, beautifully cut into ovate leaflets that quickly cover walls and flower beds, forming an ornamental screen throughout the summer. It bears flowers that are semi-double from May to June and then single from August to September. Its compact habit is ideal as ground cover along a border or in a pot, climbing on a trellis. The bright flowering of this variety blends well with other colours and stands out well against a dark background. It is a hardy and easy-to-maintain climbing perennial that just needs well-drained, fairly rich, and moist soil. A sunny location helps support its beautiful flowering.

The genus Clematis belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. Clematis 'Mrs George Jackman' is an old English horticultural variety, obtained in 1873 by G. Jackman & Sons. It was given the 'Award Of Garden Merit' in 1993. It is a cross between Clematis c. lanuginosa 'Candida' and 'Fortunei'.

It is a woody climbing perennial with short stems that will not exceed 2.5 m (8ft) high with a spread of 1 m (3ft). The deciduous leaves fall in winter. They are bright green, composed of 3 ovate to lanceolate leaflets, 3 to 7 cm (1 to 3in) long and 1.5 to 5 cm (1 to 2in) wide, with relatively prominent veins. The rounded single flowers are composed of a minimum of 6 indistinct, oblong to oval, very overlapping petals with rounded tips. They can reach up to 18 cm (7in) in diameter. The plant bears cream-white satin semi-double flowers in spring and single flowers in late summer. The stamens are butter yellow with light brown anthers, ranging from caramel to coffee. The colour of the flowers tends to fade at full bloom, especially when the plant is in full sun. This clematis clings to its support or host plant with tendrils.

Plant clematis alongside your climbing roses to extend the flowering of your walls and pergolas until the end of summer. It is a genus rich in diversity, with flowers of all colours, shapes, and sizes. Take advantage of their easy cultivation to give your garden a romantic and bohemian touch. To protect it from excessive heat and drying out at the base, plant your clematis in the shade of a perennial ground cover or a bush. Thanks to its relatively modest size, 'Mrs George Jackman' will easily fit in a small garden and be perfectly happy in a pot on a balcony or next to an entrance door, to welcome visitors with its magically coloured flowers. Let it climb in a dull evergreen hedge or against a dark wall, which will enhance its exceptionally large and bright flowers.