Clematis Tai Yang

Clematis Tai Yang is a small but floriferous variety with particularly decorative evergreen foliage, which is covered in small white flowers in spring. These qualities make it a pretty plant for the terrace or balcony, planted in a beautiful container that it will happily overflow in the summer. You can only plant this slightly tender climber in the ground in a mild climate.

The Clematis genus belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. 'Tai Yang' is a horticultural variety belonging to the group of cartmanii hybrids, the Forsteri. These plants are the result of cross-breeding different botanical species native to New Zealand, such as Clematis indivisa, better known as Clematis paniculata, or Clematis forsteri.

Clematis Tai Yang is a slightly climbing plant with a perennial crown. It is classified in the group of clematis that flower early in the season on one-year-old shoots. it is a little slow to establish and forms a bushy clump in 5 years, reaching 1.50 m (5ft) high and 50 cm (20in) in diameter if guided on a support. It starts flowering in April-May, depending on the climate and lasts several weeks. The flowers measure 4 cm (2in) in diameter. Their shape vaguely resembles daisies, but they only have 6 fairly wide petals, starting off greenish-white and becoming pure white. The pistachio green centre of the corolla is occupied by yellow anther stamens. The evergreen foliage is light and composed of thick, leathery, curiously cut, shiny dark green leaves.

Clematis x cartmanii, such as Tai Yang, are sensitive to severe frosts and excessively dry soils. They can climb up to 2 or 3 metres (7 or 10 feet) depending on the variety, but look much more beautiful when allowed to freely mingle, winding between neighbouring plants or scrambling over low shrubs, dwarf conifers, boxwoods, myrtles... They are also excellent plants for the terrace or balcony in cold regions. Let them cascade from a large container and the foliage, flowers, and seed heads will be magnificent throughout summer. These clematis will rest in winter in the shelter of a lightly heated veranda.