Clematis x diversifolia White Arabella (Zo14089)

The Clematis White Arabella ('Zo14089') is a delicious white-flowered form of the 'Arabella' variety, recently selected in the Netherlands for its generous flowering. The first flowers that bloom in spring are semi-double, quickly replaced by single flowers, with bright star-shaped petals, renewing themselves until the end of summer. This small climbing plant thrives on old walls, trellises, fences, as well as ground cover at the base of trees. Ideal in combination with a bush, in a pot or in the ground.

Clematis belong to the family Ranunculaceae. 'White Arabella' is a recent cultivar derived from Clematis diversifolia, a hybrid between Clematis integrifolia and different forms of C.viticella. It is a herbaceous perennial climbing plant that will reach 1.50 m (5ft) in height (slightly less in a pot), with a spread of 90 cm (35in) to 1 m (3ft). Deciduous, it completely dries out every winter and forms numerous shoots from its stump in spring. Its flowering occurs from May to September.

The erect flowers measure 5 to 7 cm (2 to 3in) in diameter, appearing on the new shoots from June to September, either solitary or grouped in clusters or small bouquets. Each flower consists of 4 to 8 well-separated petals, slightly undulate at the edges, surrounding a pale yellow stamen center. Only the flowers that appear at the end of the shoots in May are semi-double. The flowers are followed by feathery fruits that persist until winter, being decorative and silver-gray. The leaves are simple and either entire or divided into 3 leaflets, lanceolate to cordate, quite dark green. This clematis climbs on the support or host plant using petioles transformed into tendrils.

This White Arabella clematis can be used as a perennial plant, in a rock garden and mixed border. It will be perfect for free use as a garland or in the branches of a late-flowering bush (lilac, mock orange, deutzia). Ideal for dressing up a sad creeping conifer in summer, this small climber will also adorn balconies, as it performs well in pots where it should be trained on a trellis, just like in the garden. Mix it with shrub roses or other pastel blooms to create romantic compositions.