Clematis Carnaby

The Clematis or Clematis 'Carnaby' is an acknowledged American hybrid known for its very bright bicolored flowering. It is a deciduous climber that is covered in very large flowers measuring 12 to 20 cm (5 to 8in) in diameter. The flowers are light pink with wide darker pink medians, continuously blooming from May to September except during hot periods. Under light, the flowers fade to pure white stars, lightly striated with pale pink and speckled with reddish-purple anthers. This queen of lianas has voluble stems that coil around supports and plants without being invasive. Plant it in a shady corner of the garden, against an opaque hedge where its unique flowering will bring light and vivacity. It is a particularly resistant and hardy variety that should be planted in light with the base in shade, in cool, rich, and well-drained soil.  

The genus Clematis belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. 'Carnaby' is a horticultural cultivar obtained in 1983 in the United States.

It is a woody perennial climbing plant with short stems that will not exceed 3 m (10ft) in height with a spread of 2 m (7ft). The leaves, deciduous, fall in winter. They are a vibrant green, composed of 3 elliptical to lanceolate leaflets measuring 3 to 7 cm (1 to 3in) long and 1.5 to 5 cm (1 to 2in) wide, with relatively prominent veins. The rounded, single flowers are composed of 6-8 broadly elliptical and pointed sepals, overlapping each other. They are 12 to 20 cm (5 to 8in) wide. The flower is light pink with wide dark pink medians, topped with white stamens and reddish-purple anthers. The colour of the flowers tends to fade at full bloom, especially when the plant is grown in a very sunny location. This Clematis clings to its support or host plant through voluble stems with petioles transformed into tendrils. This variety has good health and hardiness.

Plant your Clematis alongside your climbing roses or lianas to extend the flowering period of your walls and pergolas until the end of summer. This is a diverse genus, with flowers in all colours, shapes, and sizes. Take advantage of their easy cultivation to give your garden a romantic and bohemian touch. The bicoloured white and pink flowers of 'Carnaby' would be perfect paired with the purple foliage of a Japanese maple or to brighten up a dark hedge. Thanks to its relatively modest size, it will easily find its place in a small garden and will thrive in a pot on a balcony or next to an entrance door, embracing a small bamboo structure to welcome visitors with its magical-coloured flowers.