Clematis Little Lemons

Clematis 'Little Lemons' is a descendant of Clematis tangutica appreciated for its long yellow flowering which has been selected for its particularly compact growth that works well in flower pots or flower beds. It is a weakly climbing perennial plant whose stems are adorned with pretty lemon-yellow, bell-shaped flowers that hang downwards for more than three months from the end of spring, followed by feathery and silvery decorative seed heads.

This recently obtained Clematis Little Lemons, bred in the Netherlands, is a hybrid that carries the genes of Clematis tangutica, a deciduous species native to China, from which it inherited yellow bell-shaped flowers and beautiful seed heads. Like all clematis, 'Little Lemons' belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. This variety was awarded the Gold Medal in its category at the Plantarium de Boskoop in 2019.

It is a deciduous, very cold-resistant (-20°C (-4°F)) plant with a perennial crown, whose above-ground vegetation dries up and dies in winter and regrows in spring. In 'Little Lemons', the slender stems rarely exceed 25 cm (10in) long, with some occasionally reaching 50 cm (20in). They bear foliage divided into long ovate leaflets with visible veins, in a beautiful vibrant green. This variety starts to bloom around May 15th and continues to produce flowers until the end of September. At the tips of the stems and in the axils of the leaves, solitary flowers appear on long peduncles, measuring 2-3 cm (1in) in diameter and facing downwards. Each flower is composed of 4 lemon-yellow, tapering tepals, slightly recurved at their tips. In the centre, there is a beautiful cluster of green stamens. The terminal flowers transform into superb feathery, airy, and silvery seed heads, while the flowers on lateral stems give way to seed heads without 'plumes'.

The little lemon yellow lanterns of the 'Little Lemons' Clematis dot its very green foliage to create an original and cheerful decoration for the terrace or balcony. It is also an excellent perennial to plant in flower beds and borders where you could combine it with other dwarf or herbaceous clematis with blue flowers (Clematis integrifolia, C. heracleifolia, etc.). Its pretty yellow flowers go perfectly with the blue of Salvia uliginosa in moist soil, perennial flax, and delphiniums. Dwarf asters will also be good companions, offering shade at the base and a presence in autumn.