Clematis 'Paul Farges'Old Man's Beard, Clematis 'Summer Snow'

Clematis ‘Paul Farges’ creates a dreamy picture of billowing mounds covered in an enormous abundance of snowflake-like flowers. It’s perfect for following up on early-flowering montana varieties, usefully extending the season by flowering from June to September. This old cultivar instantly evokes romantic cottage-gardens. It’s very vigorous and requires room to scramble, but its light green foliage and wiry stems lends it a light and airy habit despite its size. It’s great for covering eyesores, scrambling over large walls, pergolas or trees and can even be used as groundcover. Its relaxed habit suits informal gardens and wild areas where the abundant flowers will hum with busy bees.

Throughout summer it is smothered in star-like, fragrant, creamy-white flowers about 4-5cm in diameter. Each flower is composed of 4-6 narrow recurving petals. At the centre is a puff of feathery stamens which remain an attractive feature long after the petals have fallen. RHS AGM. Pruning group 3.

Ultimate height: 4m (157in) to 6m (236in). Ultimate spread: 1.5m to 2.5m (98in).