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

• Position: full sun
• Soil: fertile, well-drained soil
• Rate of growth: fast-growing
• Flowering period: July to September
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  A long-flowering, creamy white ‘apple blossom’ clematis with a blush pink bar running along the centre of each petal. A wide central boss of reddish-purple stamens completes the flower (up to 17cm in diameter) making ‘Countess of Wessex’ a stunning and modest climber that would compliment most planting schemes from late spring to early summer and again from late summer to early autumn. Great for growing in a container, a pot or the patio garden, or for sheer indulgence when scrambling through Rosa ‘Dunham Massey’.
  
  
• Garden care: In early spring cut back the previous year's stems to a pair of strong buds about 15-20cm (6-8in) above ground level and apply a slow-release balanced fertiliser and a mulch of well-rotted garden compost around the plant, avoiding the immediate crown.