Clematis atragene alpina Francis Rivis

The Clematis alpina Francis Rivis is a proven variety, directly derived from the alpine clematis, from which it has inherited its earliness and hardiness. It is a sturdy climbing plant of medium size, flowering from March-April, and blooming again, although less spectacularly, in September. Its bell-shaped flowers hang down and offer a bright blue-violet colour, highlighted by a small white cup in the center. This modest-sized climber thrives on old walls, trellises, fences, but also in trees. Its numerous tendrils allow it to climb everywhere! Perfect when paired with a white rose!

The Clematis (Clematis) is a genus in the buttercup family. It includes about 30 species of herbaceous perennials with woody stems and climbing plants, semi-woody, evergreen or deciduous. They are found in both hemispheres, especially in Europe, the Himalayas, China, Australia, North and Central America. The Clematis 'Francis Rivis' is a famous English cultivar, dating from 1965, awarded in 1993 with a Royal Horticultural Society "Award of Garden Merit". It is derived from the Clematis alpina (section Clematis Tetragene), showing larger flowers. It belongs to Group 1 (early-flowering clematis) of the Clematis, which has 3 groups. It is a semi-woody, climbing perennial plant that reaches a height of 2.50m (8ft) to 3m (10ft), with a spread of 1m (3ft). The groups are defined based on cultural requirements.

This Clematis Francis Rivis bears beautiful narrow bell-shaped flowers, 5-6cm (2in) in diameter, in the axils of the leaves, on the previous year's shoots. They bloom from March onwards if the weather is mild. The bisexual flowers are solitary. They have no petals but have 4 slightly twisted sepals. In the center of the corolla are white staminodes (sterile stamens arranged in a small cup), surrounding true cream-white stamens. The flowering is followed by decorative, silvery-gray feathery fruits. The glabrous leaves, sometimes opposite, sometimes alternate, are simple, tripalmate, with irregularly serrated edges. This clematis clings to the support or host plant with the help of petioles transformed into tendrils.

We have planted it on a pergola with a white rose. Its flowers are very attractive before the roses appear, and they harmoniously blend in late summer, when both plants bloom again together. 

The name "clematis" comes from the Greek "klema" = vine shoot, because its old stems have a woody and twisted appearance with exfoliations of its cork. Half a dozen wild clematis species grow in France (not counting those cultivated in gardens). Among them are the Alpine Clematis (or Alpine Clematis), and the Traveller's Joy (Clematis vitalba), whose fresh leaves are highly vesicant; indeed, by simple contact, when crushed, "burns" appear on the skin. In the past, professional beggars rubbed the wood clematis ("herbe aux gueux") on their wounds to create superficial and extensive ulcers, with the aim of arousing sympathy from donors.