Clematis Dorothy Walton

Clematis 'Dorothy Walton', also known as 'Bagatelle', is an exceptional variety with large, star-shaped flowers with long pointed sepals that are light mauve. Its buds and anthers are a beautiful reddish tone. As they open, the flowers lighten in silvery shades, leaving a darker median and edging. This climbing perennial flowers almost continuously from May to September. It is a particularly bright variety with relatively small dimensions that are suitable for containers or borders. Use it to frame an entrance or to climb on a dark evergreen bush to add colour and light. This plant is easy to grow in all regions, provided it is given a bright location and moist, rich and well-drained soil.

The genus Clematis belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. Clematis 'Dorothy Walton' is a French creation from 1930. It is a climbing plant with short stems that will not exceed 3m in height (10ft) with a spread of 1m (3ft). The deciduous leaves fall in winter. They are bright green, composed of 3 ovate to lanceolate leaflets measuring 3 to 7cm (1 to 3in) long and 1.5 to 5cm (1 to 2in) wide. They are traversed by relatively prominent veins. The round, single flowers are composed of 6 elliptical to lanceolate, distinct tepals, forming long pointed tips at the ends. They are wide, measuring 10 to 15cm (4 to 6in) in diameter. The flowers are light mauve with darker medians. The stamens are cream and bear reddish anthers that resemble the elongated petioles and floral buds of the same colour. The colour of the flowers tends to fade at full bloom, especially when the plant is grown in very sunny conditions. This clematis clings to its support or host plant through voluble stems equipped with petioles transformed into tendrils. This variety has good health and good hardiness.

Plant your clematis alongside climbing roses or vines to extend the flowering period of your walls and pergolas until the end of summer. This genus is rich in diversity, with varieties available in all colours, shapes, and sizes. Take advantage of their easy cultivation to give your garden a romantic and bohemian touch. Thanks to its relatively small size, 'Dorothy Walton' will easily find its place in a small garden and will be perfectly happy in a pot on a balcony or next to an entrance, embracing a small bamboo structure to welcome visitors with its magical colours. Plant it near the house to enjoy its magnificent large flowers at any time!