Clematis Etoile de Malicorne

Clematis 'Etoile de Malicorne' produces large mauve-pink star-shaped flowers with purple stripes in the centre of the petals. It blooms generously in late spring and again in late summer. With a modest size, it is perfect for containers and is ideal for small gardens. This small climber will cling to a trellis, a bush, or a teepee.

Clematis belong to the Ranunculaceae family. They can be found in Europe, the Himalayas, China, Australia, and North and Central America. The variety 'Etoile de Malicorne', obtained in France in 1968, is a perfectly perennial and hardy plant that is semi-woody and climbing. It will reach 2 to 3m (7 to 10ft) in height, with a minimum spread of 1.5m (5ft). This clematis bears large, fully open flowers, easily exceeding 15cm (6in) in diameter. They appear on the previous year's shoots in June, and again in September on the current year's shoots. The flowers are solitary. They have 6 broad oval-shaped overlapping tepals. The centre of the flower is adorned with a beautiful crown of cream stamens. The flowering is followed by the formation of decorative silvery-grey feathery fruits that persist until winter. The glabrous leaves are divided into 3 elliptical to lanceolate leaflets, of a fairly dark green colour. This deciduous foliage dries up and disappears in autumn. This clematis clings to its support or the host plant through petioles transformed into tendrils.

Plant your clematis together with 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 a romantic and bohemian touch. 'Etoile de Malicorne' will pair well with the white flowers of climbing roses, Clematis 'Superba' clematis, or C. 'Miss Bateman', for example. They will look wonderful climbing a fence or covering a wall exposed to the morning sun.

Avoid use of excessive fertiliser, as this stimulates foliage growth at the expense of flowers. Do not mulch in order to avoid excessive moisture.