Clematis Three Sisters blue trio- The President, The Vagabond and Multi Blue

Clematis Three Sisters blue trio is a collection of three deciduous clematis varieties in the same pot, each offering a different shade of blue-violet. 'The President' is an English cultivar, with large single flowers in blue, veined with violet. 'The Vagabond' also comes from England and produces even more impressive flowers, in a very intense purple. 'Multi Blue', originating from the Netherlands, is a mutation with very double flowers of 'The President', which blooms in spring and again in late summer. Compact varieties, reaching 2m or 2.50m, they privide a flowering display from May to September, or even October. Ideal on a sunny balcony or terrace and does not need to be sheltered for winter, as all three are very hardy.

Clematis belong to the family of Ranunculaceae, like columbines or anemones. They are found in Europe, the Himalayas, China, Australia and North and Central America. The genus includes more than 200 species, mostly climbing plants, compact or capable of reaching up to 8m high in trees like Clematis montana, but also some non-climbing herbaceous plants, such as Clematis heracleifolia.
The most difficult thing is often to choose between the beautiful blooms on offer, Three Sisters will delight you with 3 superb varieties, forming a blue-toned harmony. 'The President' is the oldest, an English cultivar, dating back to 1876, credited to Charles Noble, from the Sunningdale nurseries near London. With limited growth, it reaches a maximum of 3m in height and 1.50m in spread. This perpetual variety blooms for the first time in May-June, then again in August-September. It is adorned with large star-shaped, 12 to 15cm diameter, beautiful blue flowers with violet nuances, particularly in the middle part of the tepals. The reverse of the corolla takes on a slightly silvery, decorative hue. The deciduous foliage is initially bronze and gradually turns olive green. Petioles transformed into tendrils allow this plant to grow up on its support.

The second variety in this composition, 'The Vagabond', was created in 1984 in England from a cross between 'Rouge Cardinal' and an unknown variety. It is more compact and does not exceed 2m in free form, which it amply compensates with the size of its flowers: up to 18cm in diameter! Blooming from May to August in large stars, they display an intense purple with a central band of purple-violet for a beautiful effect. The cream-yellow stamen centre is quite large and contrasts nicely with the petals. Its deciduous, ovate, green, 10cm long leaves, are carried by twining stems that coil around their support using tendrils.

'Multi Blue', the third "sister", comes from the Netherlands, from the J. Bouter & Zoon nursery in Boskoop, one of the main production areas in Europe. This cultivar, dating back to 1983, is a mutation of 'The President'. It produces smaller, 8 to 12cm in diameter, but very double flowers, with a variable appearance. The numerous rather tapered tepals form a sort of central pompom, almost mimicking stamens. They can also widen to form multiple concentric circles of increasing diameter, gradually joining the well-spread peripheral sepals. The corolla's centre is made up of a tuft of green stamens. The deep blue-violet flowers with a lighter vein in the centre gradually lighten as they mature. Flowering begins in May, takes a small break in summer, and restarts in September. This small climber, up to 3m high, has foliage tinged with bronze in spring, then turning dark green.

All three are very hardy (beyond -20°C) and will thrive on a terrace, with their heads in the sun and their feet preferably protected from the rays. Of comparable vigour, it will be easy to keep them in pots, but they can also be grown in the ground.

The Three Sisters collection is a beautiful combination of climbers with generous blooms that will ensure a long flowering season. Repotted in a decorative terracotta pot, they can spend the winter outdoors. Maintenance will consist of removing fallen leaves from the floor and a cleaning pruning in spring. To accompany them, you can place Trailing Fuchsia Maori Maid that will give you a magnificent flowering pot. Its large double flowers (up to 7cm), red and purple, will gracefully cascade throughout the summer and until October. To further extend the flowering period, nothing beats Forsythia Mikador which can be kept in a pot due to its compact size. In March-April, it will reward you with lots of yellow flowers, before the large stars of your clematis.