"hazchem" wrote in message
oups.com...
I have a lemon tree at home that is in flower and the scent is
wonderful. While walking through a residential area I smelled something
similar. It turned out to be a clematis growing in someone's garden. I
noticed the same or a similar variety in other people's gardens.

I think that this must be Clematis armandii. It must be a common
variety. It has large leathery leaves and masses of small white
flowers. I have never grown a clematis before, so I would like to know
if this is a particular variety of C. armandii. I would also like to
know if there are any better types for scent than this. How would I
prune it?

There are indeed different varieties of Clematis armandii, 'Apple Blossom',
'Snow Drift' and 'Jeffery's are the best. The straight species can be
disappointing.
Prune it after flowering but only if you need to, its quite happy to be left
alone.
There are a number of other scented Clematis but armandii is one of the more
reliable for spring, try rehderiana for late summer.
--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)