Clematis x viticella Huldine

Clematis 'Huldine' is an old variety of clematis that has not lost any of its charm or surprising vigour. This generous climbing plant produces a rather late summer flowering that is simple in its form but abundant. Its beautiful white flowers boast delicate pearly reflections. Of medium size, its star-shaped flowers are delicately shaded with grey-pink reflections on the top, crossed by a mauve-blue flash on the reverse. Under favourable conditions, this clematis can take over a garden shed or a small tree. Place it in full sun or partial shade, in moist but well-drained soil.

Clematis belong to the Ranunculaceae family. They are found in both hemispheres, notably in Europe, the Himalayas, China, Australia, North and Central America. The variety 'Huldine', obtained in 1912 in the Lyon region, received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit in 2002. This robust semi-woody climbing plant is perfectly perennial and hardy. Its slender stems will reach between 3 to 3.5m (10 to 11ft) (sometimes up to 5m (16ft)) in height, with a minimum spread of 1.25m (4ft). It possesses the genes of C. viticella, a species particularly resistant to diseases and rather dry soils.

The star-shaped flowers, with 6 to 8 petals, measuring 10cm (4in) in diameter, appear on the new shoots from July until the end of summer, and sometimes even until autumn. They bloom without interruption. The flowers are either solitary or grouped in clusters and are particularly abundant. They are upright and have wide, often recurved, thick and iridescent tepals. Their colour is a pearly-white with grey and pink reflections on the top. Their reverse shows a retouched midsection of light blue to pink-purple. The centre of the flower is adorned with greenish stamens that turn cream-yellow with dark anthers. The flowering is followed by decorative feathery silver-grey fruits that persist until winter. The glabrous deciduous leaves are pinnate with acute-pointed leaflets. They display a fairly deep shade of green. This clematis clings to the support or host plant by means of petioles transformed into tendrils.

Plant your clematis alongside climbing roses to extend the flowering period until the end of summer. Place them next to pretty perennials like geraniums, carnations, garden irises, peonies, sage nemorosa, phlox, which will all provide the shade it appreciates at its base. It is a richly diversified genus, with varieties in all colours, shapes and sizes. Take advantage of their easy cultivation to give your garden a romantic and bohemian touch. 'Huldine' loves to weave itself into shrubs and does very well in a large pot. For example, plant it with C. 'Prince Charles' and C. 'Romantika', and let them climb on a lilac, an abelia, a large shrub rose, or even in an informal hedge.