Clematis East River

The East River Clematis (Zoeastri) is a rare and beautiful variety belonging to the group of diversifolia clematis that are more perennial plants than climbers. Its large, light purple flowers with pink highlights are distinguished by their graceful star-like silhouette with wavy branches. They are well displayed to reveal a very beautiful crown of light yellow stamens. This small climbing plant thrives on old walls, trellises and fences, but also as ground cover at the base of trees. Ideal when combined with a bush, in a container or in the ground. Its flowers last several days when cut.

Clematis belong to the buttercup family. 'East River' is a recent cultivar derived from Clematis diversifolia, a hybrid between Clematis integrifolia and various forms of C. viticella. It is a herbaceous, climbing perennial plant, reaching 1.50 m in height (slightly less in a pot), with a spread of 90 cm to 1 m. It is deciduous and completely dries out each winter, regrowing many stems from its crown in spring. It flowers from May to September.

The East River flowers measure 8 to 10 cm in diameter, appearing on the current year's shoots from May-June to September, either solitary or clustered in cymes. Each flower consists of 6 well-separated tepals, thin at the base, wavy at the edges, surrounding a core of prominent very pale yellow stamens. Feathery seed heads follow the flowers and persist until winter, they are decorative and silvery-grey. The leaves are simple and entire or divided into 3 leaflets, lanceolate to heart-shaped, of a fairly dark green. This clematis climbs on the support or host plant through petioles transformed into tendrils.

This 'East River' clematis can be used as a perennial plant, in a rock garden or a mixed border. Perfect growing in the branches of a shrub with staggered flowering (Compact Lilacs, mock oranges, deutzias...). Ideal for filling up a slightly sad creeping conifer in summer, this lovely plant can also adorn balconies, as it performs well in containers. Cut before full bloom, the flowers last up to 10 days in a vase.