Cottagekaren's Garden
Clematis urophylla 'Winter Beauty'
Also known as C. clarkeana 'winter beauty'. I spotted one in a local garden in flower this week (mid feb) looking so healthy and growing on a North west facing fence, so thought it definitely worth a try. Bought a small one from Amazon £7 and planted against my arch where hopefully it will eventually replace the fairly dull evergreen honeysuckle which has insignificant scentless flowers in summer.
Position: full sun or partial shade
Soil: fertile, well-drained, neutral soil
Rate of growth: average to fast-growing
Flowering period: December to February
Flower colour: creamy-white
Other features: bronze-tinted evergreen leaves
Hardiness: borderline hardy (may need winter protection)
The wax-like, creamy-white sepals, which surround a prominent boss of cream anthers, emerge from pale green buds and become paler, and more flared at their tips as they mature. These small, nodding, urn-shaped flowers contrast well with the rich green foliage.
Garden care: No routine pruning is necessary. If the spread of the plant needs to be restricted prune immediately after flowering, cutting back overlong shoots to healthy buds. Apply a slow-release balanced fertiliser and a mulch of well-rotted garden compost around the base of the plant in early spring.
