Clematis heracleifolia China Purple

Clematis heracleifolia China Purple, carries delightful lantern-like flowers, a beautiful dark violet-blue. They resemble hyacinth flowers and are scented. This deciduous, non-climbing clematis is a semi-herbaceous plant which develops a fairly wide upright bush with large compound leaves, from a woody crown. The leaves resemble those of giant hogweed with 3 large, dark green, velvety leaflets, with widely cut edges. From July to September, dense clusters of tubular flowers with incurved edges appear in the axils and at the top of the sturdy stems. This hardy clematis is happy in fertile soil, not too dry, well-drained and a semi-shaded exposure. It is particularly beautiful in flower beds, containers or on slopes with other wild-looking border plants.

The Clematis genus belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. Clematis China Purple is a horticultural variety derived from Clematis heracleifolia (the hogweed-leaved clematis), a little-known herbaceous botanical species native to China. It forms a clump of angular, upright and semi-spread stems, which give it a height of 80 cm (32in) to 1 m (3ft), with a width of about 80 cm (32in). Pruned back to 30 cm (12in) each year, the old stems turn woody and branch out while the new stems carry large leaves at the base. As the plant ages, it forms more short stems, giving it a ball-like appearance. In the heart of summer, long tall flower stems emerge with inflorescences in whorls of small bell-shaped flowers, 2 cm (1in) long, with short peduncles. They are fragrant and composed of 4 curved petals of a fairly dark violet-blue and a throat with yellow anther-bearing stamens. When they fade, the fruits form small green and silvery plumes characteristic of clematis, but their arrangement in balls around the stem accentuates the decorative effect. A bit slow to establish, the plant roots deeply in the soil before showing exponential growth in following years.

Clematis heracleifolia China Purple prefers semi-shaded, not scorching situations, like its parent. It brings a breath of fresh air to flower beds. Plant it alongside your perpetual roses to accompany their successive flowering and fill in their sometimes sparsely covered base. Clematis is a genus rich in diversity, with varieties in all colours, shapes and sizes. Take advantage of their easy cultivation to give your garden a little romantic and bohemian atmosphere. Thanks to its herbaceous growth habit, this astonishing variety thrives perfectly in a pot on a balcony or on a slope with perennial sweet peas, variegated ivy, small-flowered periwinkles, Coreopsis and wood spurge. It extends the summer, easily blending in with other perennial plants or even grasses (Schizachyrium scoparium, Miscanthus sinensis Adagio) in the garden or in bouquets.