This climber is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring.

• Position: full sun or partial shade
• Soil: fertile, well-drained, neutral soil
• Rate of growth: fast-growing
• Flowering period: May to June
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  Sweetly scented, pink flowers in May and June amid purple-flushed, mid-green leaves. This vigorous, deciduous clematis is ideal for covering a wall or fence in sun or partial shade. Since it often outgrows the space intended for it, for a small garden we'd advise the less-vigorous Clematis montana var. rubens 'Freda'.
  
  
• Garden care: No routine pruning is necessary. If the spread of the plant needs to be restricted prune immediately after flowering, cutting back overlong shoots to healthy buds. Apply a slow-release balanced fertiliser and a mulch of well-rotted garden compost around the base of the plant in early spring.