General description: The Guernsey Cream was created by Raymond J. Evison in Great Britain. It’s an impressive variety as it initially blooms light yellow flowers with a greenish stripe in the centre, that turn white as they develop. It looks especially effective against a dark background. The variety is recommended for growing in plant containers. It reaches a height of 2 m.

Flowers: Guernsey Cream’s flowers are large, around 12-15 cm in diameter. When they begin to bloom, petals are light yellow with a greenish stripe in the centre, but turn white as they develop. Most often flowers are composed of eight overlapping petals and have yellow anthers on white filaments.

Blooming: Guernsey Cream flowers profusely from late May to July on old stems, and repeats blooming near the end of August on the current year’s shoots. When planted or placed in full sun, flowers fade and wither quite rapidly.

Leaves: This variety has light-green leaves.

Cultivation requirements: This clematis likes semi-shaded or shady spots. Location with an eastern, western or northern exposure are best because the Guernsey Cream variety doesn’t tolerate very sunny places. For optimal growth, it needs moist soil rich in humus, with a neutral or slightly acidic pH. The substrate must be breathable (heavy, compacted clays are not suitable but sandy soils are also not advised).

Care: In autumn it is worth covering the base of the plant either with compost or decomposed, old or granulated manure, and in spring applying a mineral fertilizer is recommended. Regular generous watering is needed during the growth season (unless heavy rainfall occurs).

Pruning: Trimming a young clematis plant should not be feared – doing so forces outward growth right from the base, and as a result the shrub looks denser in later years. In the first year after planting, the Guernsey Cream should be clipped to a height of around 30 cm from the ground to promote branching out from the very bottom of the shrub. In later years, this clematis variety should be only lightly pruned to remove old, dried out stems and withered inflorescences. Old stems should be cut to a height of 1-1.5 m (the younger or weaker the plant, the more should be cut from the top). Prune in early spring (late trimming delays blooming) and deadhead after the first flush to encourage summer flowering.

Props: This variety easily grows on all kinds of nets, poles, hung ropes, grates and trellises, fences, pergolas and arbours. The elements of support should not exceed 1 cm in diameter.

Overwintering: This clematis is frost resistant (in hardiness zone 4, withstanding -34°C). Protecting young seedlings for the winter is recommended, for e.g., by piling a mound of soil or peat about 30 cm in height over the plant. This clematis is a deciduous shrub.

Origin: Great Britain.