Early-flowering clematis will bloom with the first mild spell and give the gloomiest garden a lift and the

Clematis Montana grandiflora are great for covering an ugly eyesore quickly – very quickly indeed. They can be a little vigorous but are easily controlled by serious pruning straight after flowering.

As with all clematis, they require their roots to be in shade and really prefer a fertile, well-drained soil, enriched with organic matter. The pale pink ‘Elizabeth’ is a favourite of mine because of its vanilla scent – a very welcome sight on those first days of spring.