Clematis alpina Constance

An award winner, Clematis alpina Constance was given the prestigious Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society for outstanding performance in the garden. Charming and beautiful, an abundance of semi-double blooms with bright pink petals surrounds white centres, adorning the deciduous, climbing stems in April and May. As with all alpina varieties, the open, bell-shaped, nodding blooms are followed in summer by intriguing, fluffy seed heads. Climbing over walls, fences or pergolas, Clematis alpina Constance will scramble through trees or large shrubs. No regular pruning is needed and should you wish to control the height, just prune immediately after flowering has finished; this way there will be time for new shoots to develop and carry blooms the following spring. Hardy, down to -40 C, and thriving in a large container, Clematis Constance will reach a height of 2.5m and is much loved by bees and butterflies. Clematis alpina prefer to be grown in moist and well-drained soil, in sun or partial shade; ensure their feet (roots) are shaded by other plants, or if not, even by a large rock or piece of slate.