Guernsey Cream Clematis Plants

• Variety: Guernsey Cream, pruning group 2 – creamy flowers, light prune, spring and autumn
• Latin name: Clematis 'Guernsey Cream'
• Flower: Soft creamy-white, 12–15cm across
• Scent: None
• Climbing method: Leaf-stalk tendril climber
• Height: To 2.5m
• Flowering: May–June, repeating September
• Pruning group: Group 2 – light prune in February
• Planting depth: Plant 8–10cm below pot level
• Hardiness: Fully hardy
• RHS AGM: No
• Sold as: P9 and 3L deep pots, grown from cuttings by us. Peat-free compost
• Plant outdoors: Year-round
• Delivered: March–November typically. Collection from Castle Cary also available

Guernsey Cream Clematis – The Quiet One That Gets Noticed

There are clematis that grab you from across the garden and clematis that draw you in close. Guernsey Cream is the second kind. The flowers are a soft creamy-white, sometimes with a faint yellow-green flush when they first open, fading to pure cream as they mature. They are large — 12–15cm across — and carried in generous numbers during the first flush in May and June, with a lighter repeat in September. On a shaded wall, the cream tones glow. On a sunny one, they look cool and composed when everything else is competing to be the loudest.

At 2.5m, it is a manageable size for a fence panel, an obelisk, or a large container. It belongs to the Early Large-flowered Group and gets the Group 2 prune: a light tidy in February, cutting to the first pair of strong buds from the top, not the hard chop that Group 3 clematis need. The repeat flush in September is a genuine bonus — not every Group 2 clematis delivers one reliably.

Pairing Guernsey Cream with Stronger Colours

Cream flowers are the peacemakers of the garden. They separate colours that would otherwise clash and lift darker plantings without competing. Plant Guernsey Cream alongside Polish Spirit (deep purple, Group 3, wilt-resistant) for a classic two-clematis wall where the colour contrast does the work. For something warmer, pair it with Ville de Lyon (carmine red) on the same support. At ground level, lavender shades the roots and adds the scent that clematis lack.

Why Ashridge?

We grow Guernsey Cream ourselves, in peat-free compost and using biological controls. No neonicotinoids here. The team that propagate your clematis include some of the people who pack orders and answer questions. Delivered by next-day courier with our one-year guarantee, Which? Best Plant Supplier, and a real person in Somerset if you have questions. See the full clematis range.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I prune Guernsey Cream clematis?

In February, lightly. Cut each stem back to the first pair of fat, healthy buds from the top. Do not cut hard like a Group 3 — Guernsey Cream flowers on short shoots from last year's wood, and a hard prune removes next spring's blooms. Our clematis pruning guide explains the groups in detail.

How deep should I plant Guernsey Cream clematis?

Plant 8–10cm below pot level. Deep planting encourages shoots from below ground, providing a reserve if the top growth is damaged by wilt or accident. For full instructions see our clematis planting depth guide.

Is Guernsey Cream clematis resistant to wilt?

No. As a large-flowered hybrid, it carries the usual wilt risk. Deep planting is the best insurance — a clematis planted 8–10cm below the surface can regrow from underground buds even if wilt strikes the top growth. If wilt-resistance matters most, consider Étoile Violette or Polish Spirit from the viticella group.

Will Guernsey Cream grow in shade?

Pale-flowered clematis actually look better with some shade — full sun can bleach them. A north-facing or east-facing wall suits Guernsey Cream well, and the cream tones seem to glow in lower light. Avoid deep, dry shade under eaves.

Does Guernsey Cream repeat flower?

The main display is May to June on last year's wood. A second, lighter flush follows in September on new growth. The repeat is dependable if the plant is well fed and watered through summer. Our clematis growing guide covers feeding and aftercare.