Clematis armandii 'Apple Blossom' has superb evergreen foliage that looks good all year round, accompanied by large sprays of whitish pink, vanilla-scented flowers, deeper pink in bud, in early and mid-spring. Although the species has a reputation for being tender, it is hardier than is generally thought and as long as it is given a sheltered spot - ideally against a sunny wall - it performs very reliably in most parts of the country. But choose a spot where it has room to spread: it makes a large plant and is best left unpruned.
