Clematis lanuginosa Nelly Moser

The Clematis 'Nelly Moser' is an excellent hybrid derived from the woolly clematis. This vigorous woody climber, with a rather compact habit, blooms early in spring and usually flowers again in late summer, with large single star-shaped flowers, composed of white-pink petals marked with a wide pinkish, almost carmine, central line. Its deciduous foliage is oval-shaped and light green in colour. This very old variety is reliable and easy to grow. It thrives in partial shade or in the morning sun, but its base should always be shaded.

Clematis belong to the ranunculaceae family. They are found in both hemispheres, particularly in Europe, the Himalayas, China, Australia, and North and Central America. The 'Nelly Moser' variety is a creation dating back to 1897, by the horticulturist Marcel Moser, who presented it in France as early as 1898. This plant is a horticultural hybrid resulting from various cross-breeding with Clematis lanuginosa, a Chinese plant with huge snowy flowers. Awarded several times, this exceptional clematis is one of the most planted in our gardens and has given rise to a great lineage of interesting varieties. Its only weakness is its susceptibility to wilt disease in poor growing conditions.

This is a perfectly perennial, semi-woody, climbing plant that reaches a height of 2 to 3m (7 to 10ft), with a minimum spread of 1m (3ft). This clematis bears large star-shaped flowers, which can reach 15 to 18cm (6 to 7in) in diameter, appearing in spring on the previous year's shoots, from April to June depending on the climate, for about 3 weeks, and then again on new shoots from late August to September. The flowers are solitary or grouped in clusters. They have 8 undulate-edged tepals that pale a little in the sun, and show less colour intensity during the September rebloom. The centre of the flower is adorned with a beautiful crown of creamy stamens with brown-purple anthers. The flowering is followed by decorative silvery-grey feathery fruits that persist until winter. The glabrous leaves are opposite, oval-shaped, and of a fairly light green colour. This clematis clings to support or host plants through petioles transformed into tendrils.

Plant your clematis alongside your climbing roses to extend the flowering of your walls and pergolas until the end of summer. The 'Nelly Moser' variety pairs well with dark foliage, such as that of 'Black Lace' elderberry or the 'Black Beauty' variety, serrated-leafed Prunus, or even Physocarpus 'Diabolo'. It is a genus rich in diversity, with flowers available in all colours, shapes, and sizes. Take advantage of their easy cultivation to give your garden a romantic and bohemian touch.

Tips: Avoid excessive fertilisation that stimulates foliage growth at the expense of flowers. Do not mulch to avoid excessive moisture that promotes wilt disease.