Clematis x catmanii 'Avalanche' 4ltr on trellis

Living up to its name, Clematis × cartmanii 'Avalanche' is a vigorous evergreen climber that smothers itself in masses of pure white, star-shaped flowers with pale yellow stamens from late winter through to April. The blooms - among the largest of the evergreen clematis at up to 4cm across - create a striking contrast against deeply dissected, glossy, dark green foliage with a distinctive parsley-like appearance that provides year-round interest once flowering is over.

An RHS Award of Garden Merit holder, 'Avalanche' has a bushy, trailing and scrambling habit, reaching up to 1.5-2.5m. Being non-clinging, it's well suited to weaving through established shrubs and roses, training onto an obelisk, or growing along a wall, fence or pergola, and it also performs well in a large container.

Plant in moisture-retentive, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade, ideally in a sheltered spot with some protection from harsh frosts, as soft new growth can be damaged by hard winters. Keep the roots cool and shaded with underplanting or a layer of pebbles at the base. Falls into Pruning Group 1, so needs minimal pruning; simply tidy after flowering to remove dead or damaged stems. As with all clematis, the foliage and stems can be a skin irritant and are harmful if eaten, so it's best sited away from grazing pets and gloves are recommended when handling.

Each plant is hand-selected before dispatch to ensure strong, healthy growth from the start.