Solitary clematis is a sprawling perennial with a woody base and a member of the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, that also includes anemone, delphinium, and columbine.  Native to central and southern Europe and Asia, it has wiry stems bearing medium green 2-5.5″ long leaves that are ovate to oblong, sessile, entire, and conspicuously veined. The nodding flowers are 1/2-1″ wide and are carried singly on slender pedicels up to 8″ long from summer into fall.  They are urn shaped and have  cream colored anthers and  four recurved indigo-violet sepals that are slightly twisted.  Attractive plumose seed heads follow.  Plants should be slightly staked and the roots should be kept  cool , shaded and moist.  Stems die back after frost and reappear in the spring, so flowers are on new growth.  The genus name, Clematis, comes from the Greek word klemetis meaning climbing plant.  The specific epithet, integrifolia, comes from Latin words integer meaning undivided, and folia, meaning leaf.

Type: Sprawling perennial

Bloom: Solitary, nodding, urn-shaped, indigo-violet flowers 1/2-1″ wide with recurved slightly twisted sepals

Size: 1 1/2 – 3′ H x 3′ W

Light:Full sun to partial shade

Soil:Fertile, consistently moist, well-drained

Hardiness: Zones 3-7

Care: Fertilized monthly during the growing season

Pests and Diseases: Generally healthy but susceptible to stem rot and wilt’

Propagation: Division, seed

Companion Plants:Roses and other shrubs

Outstanding Selections:

var. caerulea (lighter blue flowers)

‘Hendersonii (dark blue flowers)

 

Photo Credit: H Zell Wikimedia

By Karen