Clematis patens Proteus

The 'Proteus' clematis is a superb vigorous climber. At the end of spring, it produces large, very double flowers in a lilac pink colour, reaching up to 15 cm (6in) in diameter. Luxuriant and generous, it will bring elegance and refinement to your terrace when planted in a large pot, but also at the base of an arch, or even winding around a large bush. Offer it a rich, moist and well-drained substrate, in full sun or partial shade.

The 'Proteus' clematis belongs to the large botanical family of Ranunculaceae - which includes ornamentals as varied as aconites, anemones, and buttercups. Clematis have been of interest to flower enthusiasts for centuries, and nurseries have therefore worked on creating increasingly opulent crossbreeds. 'Proteus' is a variety obtained from the botanical species Clematis patens, which is native to Japan. Of medium size, about 2 to 3 metres (7 to 10 feet) tall, it has large trifoliate leaves, meaning they are deeply lobed. Like the majority of climbing clematis, it clings to its support thanks to petioles transformed into tendrils. In clematis, what are called petals are actually made up of sepals.

'Proteus' clematis is an English hybrid, obtained in 1876 by the nurseryman Charles Noble in the United Kingdom. Very floriferous, it bears a large number of 15 cm (6in) diameter flowers between May and June, remaining beautiful for a long time. Very double-petalled, they have delicate pink petals, slightly washed with lilac mauve. The centre of the flower opens very gradually in a succession of slightly wrinkled petals, until revealing the charming creamy yellow heart. If the weather is mild, the flowering is often recurrent in September.

Cultivating 'Proteus' clematis is rather easy: give it a deep, fairly rich, soft, moist but well-drained soil. The only disease that is truly formidable for this clematis is wilt disease, which appears when there is excessive moisture at the base. It is characterised by leaves that suddenly wilt. For most clematis, remember to follow the motto "head in the sun, feet in the shade": if relatively significant sunlight is necessary for good flowering, it is preferable to protect the base from intense sunlight, for example by placing a tile on top. It is also recommended to plant the stump horizontally, in order to stimulate the growth of several buds from the base of the plant. Every year, at the end of winter, you can prune every other stem between 30 and 50 cm (12 and 20in) from the ground, in order to regenerate the wood, branch out the plant, and increase flowering. Take this opportunity to remove dead wood.

For a successful setting, provide the clematis with a suitable support: in a pot, at least 25 cm (10in) wide and as deep as possible, a small trellis may suffice. In the garden, a pergola, with the Himalayan geranium at its base, or an arch accompanied by the Alpine clematis with a more wild charm, or even a large bush like the Dipelta ventricosa, will be excellent supports to showcase it. It can also be allowed to run along the ground, emerging happily amidst perennials.