After having had the opportunity, and sheer pleasure too I might add,to watch this clematis in my garden for many seasons now, I must admit that her stunning and persisting performance has rendered me speechless. Her almost unbelievable ability to produce flowers almost continuously from around mid May through October, and may be also into November this year(2009), reveals such an utterly amazing and impressive stamina, that I doff my hat and bow. She may take a short break in mid July though of a week, or two at the most, which is of course forgiven. I have more than 40 clematises in my garden now, but there is no other to match this one`s outstanding quality. We now write the 25th of October, and there are still buds and flowers on the plant, so I am waiting for her to hit November. She was planted as a company for the Bourbon rose Honorine de Brabant which she has now outgrown, having her eys set on conquering the neighbouring , huge rambler Alberic Barbier as well , which of course could be a tall order, but she is welcome to try - and with my blessings too. The success I have had with this, one of the first clematises I planted, has made me plant three more of the sort. Now this is a somewhat different story at least up till now. This clematis is unfortunately prone to the withering disease, and will need special attention in this matter. Two of the recent plants have both already suffered two or three bouts of this annoying thing. It seems however that I have finally succeeded in saving them now - I keep my fingers crossed. The third one which I planted this spring, also withered down in August. As I have achieved a certain experience in this matter now, I keep my hopes high for this one as well. I guess there are many ways of dealing with the withering disease. What I do is water the plant with a fungicide and spread sand around the top of the root. I know that some experts will tell you to dig up the plant and throw it away. Don`t do that. They usually come around eventually.even if they may be "gone" for a year or two. Anyway, given the mentioned defects, this is still my top favourite. If you are looking for a clematis with a maximum flowering potential, producing large flowers of a beautiful lilac blue colour, then I say: Do try this one.

May be into November I said. Well she has not only hit November but December as well. We are now writing Dec10th and the plant is still bringing out flowers and buds. May be she is set on trying to reach Christmas. The below photo was taken on Dec1st. As can be seen, the colour of the flowers have now faded to almost white. This is of course due to reduced daylight and sunshine and protracted rains as well as a few night temperatures below 0C Besides the strong salty winds are also telling hard upon them. Nevertheless the beauty is still there to be admired - and this is in Norway -in December. I am lost for words.

We now write January 10th 2010, and I am sorry to say that the mentioned Christmas Prospect was thwarted by the protracted cold which started at Lista right before Christmas and is still holding the better part of Europe in a freezing vise. Anyway it has still been a stunning performance. I only hope that this major blow by "King Winter" will not cause a serious setback, preventing the plant from displaying an equal profusion during the coming season.