Clematis integrifolia - Solitary virgin's-bower

Here is a duo of Clematis integrifolia, whose delicately scented summer flowering is scattered with dark blue or rich pink bell-shaped flowers depending on the plants. In spring, a multitude of dark green leafy stems emerge directly from the base, forming a lush clump rather than an entangled liana. The single-leaved clematis is unfairly overlooked and underutilized in our gardens, despite its generous flowering and great adaptability to all kinds of climates and soils. The vegetation of this botanical clematis, like many perennials, completely disappears in winter.

The genus Clematis belongs to the family of renonculaceae. Clematis integrifolia is a herbaceous clematis with woody base native to southern Europe, central Europe, Russia, and China. It is a low climbing perennial plant, with long leafy stems that form a bushy clump not exceeding 1m (3ft) in height, with a spread of 1m². Slow to establish, the plant roots deeply in the soil before showing exponential growth in the following years, becoming moderately suckering after a few years of cultivation. Each spring, a multitude of stems emerge directly from its base. They bear small, entire, ovate to elliptical leaves, deep green and shiny. The flowers bloom abundantly in May-June depending on the climate, and then more sporadically throughout the summer among the foliage. They are campanulate in shape, 4 to 5 cm (2in) wide, composed of 4 fused and slightly twisted petals. Often facing upwards, they offer a throat filled with cream-colored stamens to the eyes. The flowering is followed by the formation of feathery and silvery fruits, very decorative at the end of the season. This wild clematis tolerates drought fairly well once well established, and prefers sunny but not scorching situations.

Plant the integrifolia clematis alongside your climbing roses to accompany their first flowering and fill their base. Exquisite and robust,  this herbaceous clematis will be perfectly happy in a pot on a balcony, or in a border alongside Coreopsis and euphorbias. Also consider pairing it with a bush rose or ground cover rose in white or pink (The Fairy, Swany, Happy Chappy, Aspirin Rose, Mareva...), for a very romantic and low-maintenance scene.