Clematis x viticella Little Bas

Clematis 'Little Bas' is a variety derived from C. viticella, from which it inherited robustness and ease of cultivation. Its simple and bell-shaped flowers are of modest size, but are produced abundantly throughout summer. They are a lovely violet-blue with pink highlights, hiding an interior adorned with a white star pattern that plunges into a wide white throat. This healthy clematis is easy to grow in many situations, and its rather moderate development is suitable for small gardens. It is stunning when planted with a pink rose.

Clematis belong to the Ranunculaceae family. They are found in Europe, the Himalayas, China, Australia, and North and Central America. The 'Little Bas' variety was obtained in 2000 in the Netherlands. Its ancestor, Clematis viticella, native to Southern Europe, is known for its natural resistance to clematis wilt. It is a perfectly perennial, semi-woody and climbing herbaceous plant, which will reach an average height of 2.5m (8ft) (sometimes more than 3m (10ft)), with a minimum spread of 1m (3ft). This clematis bears semi-open flowers, reaching 5 to 6cm (2in) in diameter. They appear in successive waves on the current year's shoots, from June to the end of summer. The flowers are solitary or grouped in small bouquets. They have 4 wide, undulating, curled sepals with a crepe-like texture. The centre of the flower is adorned with a small crown of cream-white stamens. The olive-green and glabrous leaves are divided into 3 elliptical to lanceolate leaflets. The deciduous foliage dries up in winter. This clematis clings to support or the host plant through petioles transformed into tendrils.

Plant your clematis together with climbing or rambling roses ('New Dawn', 'Pomponella', 'Bouquet Parfait') to extend the flowering period of walls and pergolas until the end of summer. It is a diverse genus, with colours, shapes, and sizes of all kinds. Take advantage of their ease of cultivation to give your garden a romantic and bohemian touch. 'Little Bas' will blend well with the climbing rose 'Pink Cloud', the pink flowers of Clematis 'Patricia Ann Fretwell' or C. 'Little Mermaid', for example. These small climbers all have the same stature, and can be used to climb a fence or cover a wall exposed to the morning sun. Italian clematis tolerate wind well and are excellent varieties to plant at the base of hedges.

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