Clematis integrifolia Blue River

Clematis Blue River ('Zoblueriver') is a low-climbing variety with moderate growth, which produces an abundance of bell-shaped flowers in a soft mauve-blue, opening into large stars on a glorious bouquet of creamy stamens. It forms a lush clump on which flowers bloom throughout summer. The vegetation of this clematis, like that of many perennials, completely disappears in winter. It is a hardy and very long-lasting plant that grows and flowers for many years. It works well in pots as well as in open ground. Its flowers are also very long-lasting in a vase. It is unjustly overlooked and underused in our gardens. 

The genus Clematis belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. Clematis Blue River is a horticultural hybrid. This variety is derived, among others, from C. integrifolia, the single-leafed clematis, an herbaceous species with a woody base originating from southern Europe, central Europe, Russia, and China. Blue River is a low-climbing perennial plant with long leafy stems that forms a bushy clump reaching 1 to 1.5m (3 to 5ft) in all directions in open ground. It can be trained on a support or left free. 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 entire, ovate to elliptical leaves, of a slightly glossy medium green. The flowers bloom abundantly from June to September along almost the entire length of the stems, emerging above the foliage. They are bell-shaped when they open, composed of 4 to 5 swollen sepals. Then they straighten up and open almost flat, reaching 6cm (2in) in diameter. They are composed of 6 elliptical sepals that are deeply veined and slightly undulate. They boast a shade of lavender-blue, fading to a bright sky-blue (especially on the edges). They surround a beautiful bouquet of creamy stamens. The flowering is followed by the formation of decorate silver fruits at the end of the season. This clematis prefers sunny but not scorching situations.

Plant Clematis Blue River alongside ground-cover roses, bushes, or climbers to accompany their flowering or fill in their bare base. Clematis represents a genus rich in diversity, with all colours, shapes, and sizes. Take advantage of their easy cultivation to give your garden a romantic and bohemian touch. The exquisite Clematis Blue River will thrive perfectly in a pot on a balcony, a patio, at the corner of a wall, or in a bed overrun with perennial sweet peas, variegated ivy, small-flowered periwinkles, gauras, and bellflowers. You can use the cut flowers to create romantic or country-style bouquets.