Clematis jackmanii Forever Friends

Clematis Forever Friends ('Zofofri') is a recent variety, selected for the abundance and duration of its flowering, the delicacy of its white flowers with pink and mauve reflections, and its robustness. Fast-growing and of medium size, it is covered with pale moon-coloured flowers beautifully punctuated at the heart by a feathery red-violet pistil. This variety, awarded at the Plantarium in 2009, will satisfy both busy gardeners and the most demanding collectors. Its maintenance consists of an annual pruning at the end of winter, 35cm (14in) from the ground.

Clematis Forever Friends, obtained in the Netherlands, is one of the many descendants of C. 'Jackmanii', also called Jackman's Clematis. This plant belongs to the Ranunculaceae family and is a hybrid resulting from a cross between C. lanuginosa and C. viticella. It belongs to the group of large-flowered clematis. Clematis attach themselves to their support through petioles transformed into tendrils. This variety is a climbing plant with a woody stump. It is bushy, dense, and compact, with deciduous foliage. Fast-growing and vigorous, it can climb up to 3m (10ft) in height, with a spread of about 1m (3ft). From June to September, it bears an abundance of flowers measuring 6 to 8cm (2 to 3in) in diameter, with 4 to 5 ovate tepals with pointed tips, and a wavy texture. Their colour is a milky white, slightly tinted with pink and mauve, contrasting beautifully with a centre adorned with a violet pistil surrounded by cream-yellow stamens.

Large-flowered clematis, the ultimate climbing plants, are easy to grow and can be displayed in many ways. Essential in English gardens, they undoubtedly offer a romantic, natural, and wild touch to the garden. They will be the perfect companions for climbing roses or non-remontant climbers, thanks to their long uninterrupted flowering until autumn. They will certainly be the ideal plants to adorn and enhance walls, trellises, pergolas, arches, and fences. They can also be grown in trees, shrubs, and hedges, bringing colour when other flowers have faded. Clematis are excellent candidates for container gardening, to liven up a balcony or patio. It is wise to avoid excessively hot locations, both in pots and in the ground. Forever Friends will be beautiful when associated with an Albertine or Alchymist rose, Japanese maple, bamboo, ceanothus, hibiscus, wisteria, or a lilac with small leaves. Medium-height perennials will shade its base, such as perennial geranium, daylily, hellebore, heuchera, or columbine.