clematis [Rebecca]

Plant in a moisture-retentive, well-drained soil; the flower colour is strongest in sun; keep the base of the plant and the roots cool and shaded by other plants or a layer of pebbles or flat stones at the base See clematis cultivation for more advice

Propagate by double leaf-bud semi-ripe cuttings taken from spring to late summer, or by layering from late winter to spring

May be affected by pests such as aphids and capsid bug; flowers may be damaged by earwigs; young shoots are vulnerable to slugs and snails; container-grown plants may be affected by vine weevils

May be affected by clematis wilt and powdery mildews; pruned stems may be affected by clematis slime flux