Clematis Vitalba is the UK’s only native Clematis. A vigorous climber, it can be seen growing through hedgerows at the side of roads and railways, in building sites and, indeed, left alone, will flourish almost anywhere. From early summer it begins flowering, producing tiny but beautifully formed white blooms. These continue throughout the season well into the autumn, while on the same plant, earlier flower heads by now will have started to seed. These seeds, all clad in copious amounts of hairy down to allow better dispersal by the wind, are the reason for its common name: ‘Old Man’s Beard’ which, when seen growing in large clumps, the plant resembles very closely.