Clematis 'Pafar' PATRICIA ANN FRETWELL™ old man's beard

PATRICIA ANN FRETWELL™ is a masterpiece bred by Devon based clematis breeder Barry Fretwell. It produces highly variable flowers as to petal composition. In spring they are mostly semi-double or fully double, sometimes fluffy like dahlias, sometimes tousled like double coneflowers. In late summer and autumn they are single and flat but larger. They are always white with a wide rosy pink bar, and they are always extraordinary and beautiful. It is quite a compact plant reaching some 2.5m.

It belongs to Group 2 clematis: in early spring remove dead and damaged stems before growth begins, trimming all remaining stems to where strong buds are visible. These buds provide a framework of second-year shoots that flower in late spring and early summer. We suggest pruning the plant after the spring flowering has finished by about a third or even half its size. It will re-emerge and flower again and quite reliably from August until October.

Clematis likes deep, fertile, moist but well-drained soil that remains cool. You can grow a plant below clematis that will provide shade for its roots. Add garden compost in late winter and mulch it well. Fully hardy to min. -34°C (USDA zone 4).

Last update 08-11-2017