ONE of the most popular garden plants, cematis is known for its versatility.

Reporter SOPHIE BROWNSON talks to ANNA JONES of Usk Garden Centre about how you can incorporate it in to your own garden.

KNOWN as Old Man’s Beard, Traveller’s Joy, and Virgin’s Bower, clematis is an easy-to-grow plant popular with many a gardener.

Famed for its versatility, clematis can be grown on walls, frames, containers, or left to scramble through trees and shrubs.

Flowering from winter to late summer, Anna Jones of Usk Garden Centre said it is a plant that can transform the dull corners of your garden into a colourful feature.

“Early clematis are particularly lovely,” Mrs Jones said.

“Basically they are a deciduous climber with single four petalled flowers which bloom in late spring or early summer, so they look really nice now.

“They climb like mad and come in pretty colours such as white, light pink and dark pink.

“They are great for growing over trees and hedges. “

Typical varieties of the Celmatis Montana include Montana Elizabeth; Montana Rubens and Montana Grandiflora.

Clematis is a hardy plant, ideally planted in spring or early autumn and prefers sun or partial shade.

“They will tolerate shade,” Mrs Jones said about the Montana varieties.

“It is unusual as they normally like sunshine”

Another popular variety is the larger flowered clematis such as the Barbara and The Bees Jubilee.

Meanwhile some varieties are evergreen such as the Armandii Apple Blossom, but Mrs Jones said that these varieties are not as pretty.

Clematis can be grown in a pot as long as they are given ample water and need to be encouraged to grow up trellis.

“They put up feelers and wrap themselves around whatever is there,” Mrs Jones added.

“They like to be sheltered from the wind, but they are quite easy to grow.

“Putting some chippings over the roots that are close to the top of the soil will prevent them from getting too hot.”

Some varieties of clematis require pruning and Mrs Jones recommends cutting them back halfway in July so that they don’t become bare at the base.

“They can be grown in every garden and they are really good for small gardens,” she added.

“As they are so pretty they can brighten a dark corner.”