clematis 'Henryi'

Written by Pamela Clark. Posted in News

Clematis 'Henryi' was one of the early hybrids created as part of an attempt to get the largest possible flowers on clematis.  In 1855 Isaac Anderson-Henry of Edinburgh crossed C. Patens and C. Lanuginosa and obtained the white-flowered 'Henryi'.
It is early-summer flowering with a second crop later in the year.  It doesn't grow too tall - about 3-4m, depending on how hard it is pruned.  The main attraction is the flower which is 15 to 18cm across with 8 sepals that barely overlap.  What adds to its interest is the contrast of brown-tipped stamens against the pure white of the flower.  Each sepal has elegant veining from tip to base.
In his book on clematis Christopher Lloyd states that it is a 'difficult' plant and he does not like it.  However, he does admit that it never grew for him.

clematis-henryi.2

photo by Pamela Clark