Curtains of colour

CAPABLE of scaling trees or disguising lengths of ugly fencing, cultivars of Clematis montana are a spectacular sight in late spring. Some, like pale-pink C. ‘Mayleen’, make a curtain of flowers so dense you can barely put a pin between them, while the white stars of C. montana var. wilsonii are more distinctive, showing well against foliage.

I love plants that take care of themselves and occupy a large area successfully, but while most montanas have a reach of 20-30ft (6-9m) and are often described as ‘rampant’, there are compact cultivars for smaller spaces. All but the fussiest doubles will attract plenty of pollinating insects and some have a deliciously sweet vanilla scent, especially when