Clematis jackmanii Alba

Clematis jackmanii 'Alba' is a sumptuous early-flowering variety, with rapid growth, vigorous, bushy, and compact habit. Little known, it adorns itself, throughout the summer, with large spectacular flowers, semi-double, white with pale mauve and bluish reflections, becoming single and white-cream during the second flowering in September. A rarity not to be missed, for Clematis and exceptional flower enthusiasts.

Clematis jackmanii, also known as Jackman's Clematis, belongs to the Ranunculaceae family and is a hybrid resulting from a cross between Clematis lanuginosa and Clematis viticella. It belongs to the group of early-flowering large-flowered Clematis. Clematis attach themselves to their support through petioles transformed into tendrils. This magnificent 'Alba' variety is a climbing plant with a woody stump, bushy, dense, and compact, with deciduous foliage. With rapid and vigorous growth, it can climb up to 3 meters (10 feet) in height, with a spread of about one meter. This splendid and floriferous variety displays, from May to June, magnificent semi-double flowers, measuring 15 cm (6in) in diameter, with pointed sepals. The outer sepals of the flowers are milky white tinged with mauve, while those in the center are white shaded with blue, contrasting beautifully with a light chocolate stamen heart. A second flowering takes place in September, but the flowers often change in appearance, becoming single and their colour turns to off-white. As if two Clematis existed in one!

Early-flowering large-flowered Clematis, the ultimate climbing plants, are easy to grow and can be staged in countless ways. Essential in English gardens, Clematis undoubtedly bring a romantic, natural, and wild touch to the garden. They will be the perfect companions to climbing or non-remontant rose bushes, thanks to their long uninterrupted flowering until autumn. They will certainly be the ideal plants to adorn and enhance walls, trellises, pergolas, arches, fences, etc. But also trees, shrubs, and hedges, bringing colour when other blooms have faded. Clematis are also excellent candidates for container cultivation, to animate a balcony, terrace, or patio. It is advisable to avoid excessively hot locations, both in pots and in the ground. The 'Alba' jackmanni variety will be beautiful when associated with a climbing or rambling rose, a Japanese maple, a bamboo, a Ceanothus, a hibiscus, a wisteria, or a small-leaved lilac. Medium-height perennials will shade its base, such as an Epimedium, a Daylily, a Hellebore, a Heuchera, or a Avens. Opting for species with purple foliage or flowering will create a charming contrast with the white flowering of this Clematis.