Clematis Twinkle

Clematis Twinkle is a rarely offered variety of herbaceous clematis derived from Clematis integrifolia which is more like a herbaceous perennial than a climber. Its flowers appear in early summer, delicately scented and gracefully inclined porcelain-like fine bells, white, tinged with blue-mauve at the base. The vegetation completely disappears in winter to reappear in spring with many dark green leafy stems that emerge directly from the crown, forming a slightly bushy clump that will need support. Its modest size and tender flowering make this variety ideal for pot cultivation, and an excellent perennial for sunny beds and slopes.

The Clematis genus belongs to the buttercup family. 'Twinkle' is a horticultural variety derived from Clematis integrifolia, a herbaceous clematis native to southern Europe. It is a herbaceous and loosely climbing perennial plant, with long leafy stems, forming a bushy clump no more than 1 m (3ft) high, with a spread of 1m² (10,8 sqft). The plant roots deeply in the soil before showing exponential growth in the following years. Each spring, a multitude of stems emerge directly from its base bearing small entire, oval to elliptical, deep green and glossy leaves. The bell-shaped flowers bloom in late spring among the foliage, composed of 4 fused and slightly twisted petals, 4 to 5 cm (2in) long and with yellow anther stamens in their throat. Like its parent, this variety tolerates drought quite well once well established, and prefers sunny but not scorching locations.

Plant 'Twinkle' clematis alongside your climbing roses to accompany their first flowering and fill in their sometimes bare base. Clematis are a genus rich in diversity, with flowers in all colours, shapes, and sizes. Take advantage of their easy cultivation to give your garden a romantic and bohemian touch. The exquisite 'Twinkle' variety, thanks to its herbaceous growth habit, will thrive perfectly in a pot on a balcony, or on a slope overrun with perennial sweet-peas, variegated ivy, small-flowered periwinkles, Coreopsis, and euphorbias.