Clematis

Description
Belonging to the family ‘’Renonculacées’’, there are more than 200 sorts of Clematis and more than 400 ‘’cultivars’’ (varieties of plants obtained by different selections). This ligneous plant, with its generous flowering, proposes a large diversity of flowers, of all sizes and colours, with a deciduous or persistent foliage dependant on the varieties.
 
Gardening 
Clematis are easy to cultivate plants, only if they have the advantage of an ideal exposure, foot in the shade and head in the sun l  They like rich and light grounds and can reach ten meters high. Giverny’s gardeners have a preference for white varieties ‘’Madame Lecoultre  and Clematis spoonerii’’.
 
Monet and clematis
En the year 1924, Georges Truffaut evocated Monet’s Clematis in one of his reports published in the magazine ‘’Jardinage’’ : «Some of these Clematis exist…, one is greenish white, the other is rose-white, which are abundantly used in Giverny… The general effect is fully remarkable. These are aerial garlands whose extremities are freely floating in the wind and look like lace draperies. »
 
Where and when can we see some in Giverny ?  
Spring Clematis can be admired as early as at the end of April. Even though summer Clematis flower in July and August. They are mainly planted at the foot of structures of famous, ‘’grave nicknamed’’ coloured clumps of the ‘’Clos Normand’’.