Bill Mackenzie

Clematis 'Bill MacKenzie' has huge yellow, bell-shaped flowers with fluffy seed heads, blooming from early summer to early autumn. Ideal for growing against a wall or trellis.

Plant care and tips

Water regularly during dry periods in the first seasons after planting. Clematis climbs by twisting its leaf stalks around supports, so when growing against walls and solid fences, some support such as trellis or wire mesh should be provided for the clematis to twine around. Make sure the support stands out from the wall by at least 2.5 cm (1 inch) so the climber can wind around it. To prevent the plant from forming a single stem and to encourage branching lower down, cut back all newly planted clematis in February or March to 15–30 cm (6 inches–1 foot) above ground level, cutting just above a bud. The key to growing clematis is to keep the roots cool by shading them with low-growing perennials, ground cover or mulch.