Clematis patens Yvette Houry

Clematis 'Yvette Houry', bred in France in 1900, still enchants enthusiasts with its large double flowers in a lavender-blue colour, with pointed petals revealing a bouquet of pale-yellow stamens. This small climber, less than 3m (10ft) tall, flowers from May, takes a break in summer, and then blooms again abundantly in September. Its flowers are more often single towards the end of summer. Like all clematis in the Patens group, it appreciates having its roots cool and its head in the sun, whether planted in the ground or in a pot.

Clematis belong to the Ranunculaceae family. They can be found in both hemispheres, especially in Europe, the Himalayas, China, Australia, and North and Central America. The variety 'Yvette Houry' is an old horticultural hybrid belonging to the Patens group. Perfectly perennial and hardy, this variety is a semi-woody climbing plant, averaging 2.75m (9ft) in height, with a minimum spread of 1m (3ft). Its stems are quite slender and brittle, especially in windy conditions.

This clematis bears star-shaped double flowers measuring 15 to 20cm (6 to 8in) in diameter. They appear in May and June on the shoots from the previous year's wood, and then again on the current year's shoots, in August and September. The upright flowers are either solitary or grouped in clusters. They are particularly abundant. They consist of numerous tepals, each with a pointed tip and a light blue-purple colour, enhanced by a silver-grey reverse. When fully open, the centre of the flower reveals a beautiful bouquet of creamy-yellow stamens. The dark green leaves are pinnate, with ovate, glabrous leaflets, and are of the patens type. Its deciduous foliage is absent in winter. This clematis attaches itself to supports or other plants using petioles transformed into tendrils. 

Plant your clematis together with climbing roses to prolong the flowering period of your walls and pergolas until the end of summer. This genus is rich in diversity, with varieties available in all colours, shapes, and sizes. Take advantage of their easy cultivation to bring a romantic and bohemian touch to your garden, as well as your balcony. Just like sweet peas, morning glories, and nasturtiums, 'Yvette Houry' loves to weave through bushes. It thrives in a large pot, with its roots shaded and its head in the sun. The lavender-blue flowers of 'Yvette Houry' pair well with the soft pink flowers of clematis C. 'Josephine' and the blue-pink of C. 'Vyvyan Pennel', both in the garden and in bouquets.

Tips: light and regular watering, accompanied by mulching, help to keep the base of the plant cool. Pruning helps it to branch out and regain vigour after very cold winters. You can prune it in March up to a height of 50cm (20in).