This climber is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring.

• Position: full sun or partial shade
• Soil: fertile, well-drained, neutral soil
• Rate of growth: average
• Flowering period: April to May
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  Large, open-flowered, blue blooms in early spring with yellow centres, followed by attractive, silvery, seedheads retained throughout the summer. This early spring-flowering clematis is ideal for covering a north-facing fence or wall. It's also known as the downy clematis since the new shoots are covered with down.
  
  
• Garden care: No routine pruning is necessary. If the spread of the plant needs to be restricted prune immediately after flowering, cutting back overlong shoots to healthy buds. Apply a slow-release balanced fertiliser and a mulch of well-rotted garden compost around the base of the plant in early spring.