Clematis montana Jenny Keay

Clematis Jenny Keay is a form of Clematis montana with a unique appearance and delightful flowers. Its flowers are large, simply beautiful, and single or semi-double. Their colour ranges from white to very pale green when they bloom in the shade, while they blush salmon pink in the sun. Pale green stamens complete this gentle harmony. This variety is not as vigorous as the usual forms of Clematis montana, its growth is slower and it develops shorter internodes. This will mean it can thrive in a container or large pot on the terrace. It will thrive in full sun or partial shade, in moist, deep, fertile soil.

'Jenny Keay' is a semi-woody, climbing perennial plant belonging to the buttercup family, obtained in New Zealand. Of modest size for a C. montana, it will slowly reach 3 to 3.50 metres (10 to 11 feet) high, with a spread of 1 square metre. This variety is likely the result of cross-breeding between Clematis montana, native to the Himalayas, and Clematis spooneri, native to China, both of which have single, very pale pink flowers and resemble each other.

This clematis bears double or semi-double flowers, of medium size, with a diameter of 6 to 7 cm (2 to 3in), which bloom abundantly in May-June, long after the other C. montana have finished flowering. The flowers are grouped in axillary clusters of 1 to 5 flowers on long pedicels. They appear on the previous year's branches. Resembling slightly loose but well-ordered pompoms, they have numerous thin, tapering tepals gracefully open in a star shape with green stamens at their centre. They are infinitely delicate, ivory white washed with almond green in the centre, edged with salmon pink when exposed to sunlight. The flowers are followed by decorative, feathery, silvery grey seed heads. The leaves are simple and tri palmate, with irregularly serrated edges, coppery when young, then olive green, in perfect harmony with the watercolour flower colours. 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. This is a genus rich in diversity, with flowers in all colours, shapes, and sizes. Take advantage of their easy cultivation to give your garden a touch of romance and bohemian charm. 'Jenny Keay', thanks to its relatively small size, will also thrive in a pot on a balcony or next to an entrance door to welcome visitors with its truly delightful flowering. Give it to a gardening friend as a beautiful gift.

Tips: Avoid excessive fertiliser that encourages foliage at the expense of flowers. Do not mulch, to avoid excessive moisture that promotes clematis wilt.