Clematis patens Madame Lecoultre

Clematis 'Madame Lecoultre' is the most well-known of the climbing plants with large white flowers. It is also one of the easiest to grow. This old variety, obtained in France in 1885 by Auguste Boisselot, still charms with its perfect whiteness and the fullness of its large star-shaped flowers with wide petals. It blooms abundantly: once at the end of spring, and again at the end of summer. With a moderate growth rate, this lovely climber is ideal in a small garden or on a romantic patio. Superb and generous, it is irreplaceable with climbing roses. 

Clematis belong to the Ranunculaceae family. They are found in both hemispheres, especially in Europe, the Himalayas, China, Australia, and North and Central America. The variety 'Madame Lecoultre' (also known as Marie Boisselot) is an old horticultural hybrid derived from Clematis patens among others. It has received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). This perfectly perennial plant is hardy, semi-woody and climbing, reaching about 3m (10ft) in height, with a spread of 2m (7ft). 

This clematis bears star-shaped flowers with eight wide and rounded petals that overlap at the base, measuring 18 to 22cm (7 to 9in) in diameter. They appear in June-July on the shoots from the previous year's wood, and then again in September on the current year's shoots. The flowers are either solitary or grouped in cymes and are particularly abundant. Their colour is pure white, barely tinged with yellow on the median veins of each tepal. The centre of the flower is adorned with a heart of cream-coloured filaments and yellow anthers. The flowering is followed by decorative silver-grey fruits that persist until winter. The glabrous, dark green leaves are pinnate and divided into 3 to 5 heart-shaped leaflets. They are of the patens type. The foliage disappears in winter. This clematis clings to the support or host plant by means of petioles transformed into tendrils.

Plant your clematis alongside climbing roses to prolong the flowering period of 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, as well as your balcony, a romantic and bohemian touch. 'Madame Lecoultre' loves to climb among bushes and thrives in a large pot, with the base in shade and the head in the sun. Its cut flowers last a long time in a vase, allowing you to create beautiful floral arrangements to enhance your interior.