Clematis Picardy

The 'Picardy' Clematis is a particularly compact variety, very floriferous and brightly coloured, qualities that make it a clematis particularly suited for container cultivation. The flowers of this selection are single and medium-sized, a beautiful velvety purple, more or less marked by a redder median zone on each petal. It blooms throughout the summer, forming a delightful cascade of flowers.

Clematis belong to the Ranunculaceae family. They are found in Europe, the Himalayas, China, Australia, North and Central America. The 'Picardy' variety, obtained in England by Evison in 1998, is the result of cross-breeding between the 'Burma Star' and 'HF Young' clematis. It is a perfectly perennial, semi-woody climbing plant, which will reach a maximum height of 1.50 m (5ft), with a spread of about 80 cm (32in). This clematis bears open star-shaped flowers, reaching 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4in) in diameter, which appear on the current year's shoots, from June to September, in successive waves. The flowers are solitary, close together on sturdy stems. They have 6 undulate tepals, which hardly overlap. The centre of the flower is adorned with a crown of light stamens. The flowering is followed by decorative silvery grey feathery fruits that persist until winter. The glabrous leaves are divided into 3 elliptical to lanceolate leaflets, dark green in colour. This clematis firmly attaches itself to the support or host plant through petioles transformed into tendrils. Its deciduous foliage is absent in winter.

Plant your clematis alongside your climbing roses ('New Dawn', 'Mme Caroline Testout', 'Zéphirine Drouhin'), 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. 'Picardy' will pair well with the blue flowers of the 'Hudson River' clematis, the violet of 'Romantika', or the white of 'Baby Star', for example, to climb a small structure.

Tips: Avoid excessive fertilisation that stimulates foliage at the expense of flowers. Do not mulch too heavily to avoid excessive moisture.