Clematis of the month for May, 2008

Clematis 'Huldine'

I look forward to my ‘Huldine’ showing off it masses of blooms every year and this year is no exception. It is just started to bloom in my garden so this means it will grace my courtyard all May with its flowers. I have dubbed this exquisite clematis a “Clematis for Connoisseurs!” For those of you who would like to include a clematis that is a little out of the norm this would be an excellent choice. The unique coloring is not the only thing that sets this clematis apart but also it’s charming flower’s shape and size. The tepals are colored a pearly white and the bottom sides are a pale mauve with a dark center bar. It stamens are yellow. Each perfect flower is 2” to 4” in diameter and generally has 6 tepals that do not overlap and are slightly bowed.

A very important consideration when adding Huldine to your garden is the location. It must have a warm site with plenty of sun. To fully appreciate the translucent sheen of the bloom, plant it in a position that will allow the light to shine through its tepals.

Huldine has been reported to be a late blooming clematis. However, last year my Huldine bloomed in April and again at the end of September, so, this baby may surprise you. It can grow to a height of 8 to 15 feet (possibly even 20’) making it a good choice for an arbor. It should be pruned hard or optionally.

Francisque Morel of Lyon, France is believed to have raised Huldine sometime in the early 1900’s. He gave the seedling to William Robinson of Gravetye Manor. His head gardener, Ernest Markham, then introduced it to the gardening world in 1934.

From Our Clematis Database