Clematis Picotee

Clematis 'Picotee' is a new and rare, floriferous variety which flowers in spring and again in late summer. Its large bicolour stars measure 12cm (5in) in diameter. Their white petals are edged with pink-red overlap, giving the flower a unique charm and a somewhat hypnotic appearance. Its modest size and floribundity make this clematis a perfect small climber for a pot. To be grown in full sun, in well-drained soil.

The Clematis genus belongs to the buttercup family. 'Picotee' is a horticultural variety derived from Clematis patens, a woody clematis native to Japan. It belongs to the group that flower in spring on the previous year's shoots, with a second flowering in late summer on the current year's shoots. It is a woody climbing perennial plant with short stems, reaching 1.50 to 2 metres (5 to 7 feet) high, with a spread of 1m². Lots of new stems emerge from its base in spring.

This clematis bears patens-type, very large flowers, 10 to 14 cm (4 to 6in) in diameter, first in May-June in a semi-double form with 8 petals, then again in late summer generally in the form of single, open corollas, where the 6 petals overlap. The pale pink, almost white, star-shaped flowers are solitary or grouped in clusters and edged with pink-red with a yellow stamen heart. The deciduous leaves are simple, dark green, with irregularly toothed edges. This clematis clings to support or host plant using tendrils.

Plant your clematis alongside climbing roses to extend the flowering of your walls and pergolas until the end of summer. It is a diverse genus, with varieties available in all colours, shapes, and sizes. Take advantage of their easy cultivation to give your garden a romantic and bohemian touch. The exquisite 'Picotee' variety, thanks to its relatively modest size, will be perfectly happy in a pot on a balcony or next to an entrance door over a small bamboo structure, to welcome visitors with its unique-coloured flowering.