FORTIS (Giant Star) clematis

Beautiful climber offering a spectacular and delicately scented bloom, the FORTIS ‘Giant Star’ clematis is the ideal plant to dress a fence, a trellis, or the trunk of an old tree. It literally covers itself with large, pale pink flowers to celebrate spring and its purple foliage further adds to its unmistakable charm.

Technical sheet

Type of plant: climbing plant
Dimensions: 4 m high – 3 m spreading
Flowering: from April to May
Exposure: partial shade, sun
Planting: autumn / spring
Propagation: cuttings
Watering: regular
Hardiness: very good from -15 to -20 ° C.

Cultivation conditions

The FORTIS ‘Giant Star’ clematis is a very hardy plant that tolerates negative temperatures down to -20 ° C. This strain, created by Richard Mitchell, a famous New Zealand breeder, is part of the Montana group of clematis known for their vigor and opulent flowering. FORTIS ‘Giant Star’ clematis adapts to all types of soil provided they are well-drained. It does as well in full sun as in partial shade. 

Planting

Plant FORTIS ‘Giant Star’ clematis, in autumn or spring in soil previously loosened and amended with compost and a handful of the crushed horn. Choose a semi-shaded location in the south of the country or in full sun everywhere else.
Dig a 40 cm planting hole in all directions. Install the plant, root ball slightly inclined, and fill the hole with the soil previously prepared.
Form a small mound of earth around the crown of the plant to prevent wilting and promote the release of vigorous shoots from the base. Place a tile over the root ball, or a potted bush plant that will provide shade at the roots at the base of the plant. Clematis grows well with its feet in the shade and its head in the sun. Fold the stems 30 cm from the base above a bud and start leading them on the support to help them climb.

Watering

Water regularly at planting and the following weeks if it does not rain, to ensure a good recovery. In summer, water once or twice a week so that the soil only dries up a few centimeters between two waterings, especially in summer. Be careful, clematis does not tolerate excess water at the roots, always water at a distance of 40 cm from the foot, often but moderately, especially in heavy and clayey soil.

Fertilizer

Scrape compost at the base of the plant in fall and February.

Diseases and pests

Clematis is sometimes sensitive to wilting of foliage and stems in too heavy or too wet soil. Drain the soil well or plant on a mound and water 40 cm from the base moderately but regularly in summer.

Cut

FORTIS ‘Giant Star’ clematis blooms on the stems of the previous year. Prune immediately after flowering.
Cut any stems that are dead, damaged, or too long to contain this exuberant plant. 

Use

The FORTIS ‘Giant Star’ clematis is an ideal plant to hide a fence, an old tree trunk, or to dress a facade with a trellis. It goes well with climbing roses but also with wisteria whose flowering it will prolong.
It is also possible to cultivate this beautiful climber in a tray on a balcony or a terrace, trellised to a wall or a trellis, or even on the balcony railings.