Comtesse de Bouchaud clematis

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; afternoon shade is helpful in hot climates.

Water

Keep the root zone evenly moist but not waterlogged; water deeply during dry spells, especially in the first two growing seasons.

Soil

Fertile, moisture-retentive, well-drained soil; tolerates mildly acidic to alkaline conditions.

Height

8-12 ft (2.4-3.7 m)

Spread

3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m)

Flowers

Midsummer to early autumn; large rosy-pink flowers with slightly rippled petals and cream-yellow stamens.

Foliage

Green, divided leaves on slender climbing stems; loses its leaves in autumn.

Growth

Moderate to fast once established.

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Cold hardy
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   2 ft (0.6 m)

2. After 1 year

   3 ft (0.98 m)

3. After 2 years

   4 ft (1.4 m)

4. After 3 years

   6 ft (1.7 m)

5. After 5 years

   6 ft (1.8 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Growth rate

Fast

• Provide a trellis, wires or mesh with slender elements that the leaf stalks can grip; tie young shoots in loosely.
• Plant the crown about 2-3 in (5-8 cm) below the finished soil surface in well-drained ground.
• Water deeply during dry weather rather than giving frequent light sprinklings.
• Apply compost and a balanced fertiliser in spring, following the product label.
• Mulch the root area each spring, keeping mulch away from the stems; use nearby low plants to shade the soil without crowding the crown.

Pruning. Pruning group 3: in late winter or early spring, cut all stems back to a pair of strong buds about 12-18 in (30-45 cm) above ground. It flowers on the new growth produced that season.

Late winter

Cut back last year's stems to strong low buds and remove dead growth.

Early spring

Apply compost, balanced fertiliser and a fresh mulch.

Spring

Guide new shoots onto supports and protect tender growth from slugs and snails.

Summer

Water deeply in dry spells and tie in wandering stems.

Late summer

Remove spent flowers if practical, or leave the developing seedheads for texture.

Autumn

Clear fallen diseased leaves and check that supports remain secure.

• Train over a narrow trellis beside a doorway to bring summer flowers to eye level.
• Grow through an open climbing rose for a second layer of pink flowers.
• Cover an arch or obelisk in a mixed border without the bulk of a woody climber.
• Combine with purple-flowered perennials and silver foliage for a soft pink-and-purple scheme.

Garden styles it suits: English country, Cottage garden, Romantic rose garden, Traditional, Pastel border and Small-space.

Plant it with: Climbing roses, Hardy geraniums, Catmint, Salvia, Lady's mantle and Lamb's ears.

Wildlife: Open flowers can provide pollen for visiting insects, although this large-flowered garden hybrid is not a major wildlife food plant. Dense growth offers some shelter for small garden animals.

• Clematis wilt can cause sudden stem collapse: cut affected stems back to healthy tissue or ground level, dispose of them and keep the root zone well cared for; established plants may regrow.
• Slugs and snails eat emerging shoots: inspect young growth regularly and use barriers, hand removal or locally approved controls.
• Powdery mildew may coat leaves in dry, crowded conditions: maintain soil moisture, improve airflow and remove badly affected foliage.
• Poor flowering often follows deep shade or drought: give the upper growth more light and keep roots consistently moist.

All parts are toxic if chewed by people, cats, dogs or horses. The irritant sap can cause mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting or diarrhoea, and skin contact may cause dermatitis; serious poisoning is uncommon, but seek medical or veterinary advice after ingestion.

• Hagley Hybrid clematis (Clematis 'Hagley Hybrid')

  Usually has paler shell-pink flowers with contrasting reddish-brown anthers; 'Comtesse de Bouchaud' has cream-yellow stamens.

• Nelly Moser clematis (Clematis 'Nelly Moser')

  Has a conspicuous dark pink stripe down each pale petal and a main flowering flush in late spring or early summer.

The French cultivar name means 'Countess of Bouchaud'; Clematis comes from the Greek word for a climbing or vine-like plant.

Propagation. Take softwood or semi-ripe cuttings from healthy non-flowering shoots in late spring or summer, or layer a low stem. Seedlings will not reliably retain the cultivar's characteristics.

Accepted botanical name

Clematis

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.