Clematis Vitalba

Old Man's Beard

Hardy Shrub

£24.99

UK native with masses of starry white flowers

A food-plant for a wide range of species

Gorgeous silky seed heads

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Please note: This product cannot be delivered outside the United Kingdom.

Description How to Grow More Info Delivery

Often seen scrambling through hedges and trees, Clematis vitalba is the UK’s native, wild clematis, better known by its romantic folk names - Traveller’s Joy and Old Man’s Beard. It’s a wonderful plant for a wildlife-friendly garden: beneficial pollinators, including bees and hoverflies, are attracted to its flowers, the leaves are a food plant for a variety of moth species whilst the seeds are enjoyed by birds such as goldfinches. From July to September, it produces masses of small greenish-white flowers with prominent fluffy stamens which are faintly almond-scented. The flowers develop into silky balls of seed heads which persist through the winter and look wonderful backlit by the low winter sun. Pruning group 3. Maximum height: 4-8 m. Spread: 2.5-4m.

Plant Size Height Up to 800cm (314in)
Spread Up to 400cm (157in)

Hardiness & Longevity Hardy Shrub

Ideal For patiowalls and fencescottage gardens

Position In sun or semi shadeshade

Flowering Months

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Codes
1 x 1.7 Litre Potted Plant (KF1700)

When planting clematis, choose a position in sun or semi-shade and plant the climber deeply in moist, fertile, well drained soil. Position the top of the rootball at a depth of 7.5cm (3") below soil level, to encourage new shoots to form from the base of the plant. Clematis dislike soils that are particularly wet or dry. Such soils can be improved by the addition of plenty of well rotted manure or garden compost. When growing clematis in patio containers use a soil based compost such as John Innes No.3. Train clematis plants onto a suitable support such as trellis, wires or a freestanding climbing frame.

Feed and water frequently throughout the growing season. This variety of clematis flowers in late summer on the current year’s growth. Pruning should be undertaken in spring before active growth begins. When pruning group 3 Clematis, cut back all of the previous year’s stems to a pair of healthy buds at around 20cm (8") above ground level. In spring, apply a mulch of well rotted manure or garden compost to the base of the plant in order to protect the roots and conserve soil moisture.

Seeds and garden supplies will normally be delivered within the time period stated against each product as detailed above. Plants, bulbs, corms, tubers, shrubs, trees, potatoes, etc. are delivered at the appropriate time for planting or potting on. Delivery times will be stated on the product page above, or in your order acknowledgement page and email.

Orders for packets of seed incur a delivery charge of £2.99.

Orders which include any other products will incur a delivery charge of £6.99.

Where an order includes both packets of seeds and other products, a maximum delivery charge of £7.99 will apply - regardless of the number of items ordered.

Large items may incur a higher delivery charge - this will be displayed in your shopping basket.

Please see our Delivery page for further details, and more information on different charges that may apply to certain destinations.

For more information on how we send your plants please visit our Helpful Guide on plant sizes.