Clematis diversifolia Hudson River ®ZO 06137

The Hudson River Clematis diversifolia will captivate the hearts of flower enthusiasts with its blue blooms from June to September. This recent Dutch hybrid is a delightful small semi-climbing plant that forms a somewhat bushy mass when allowed to grow freely. Its herbaceous  stems bear single star-shaped flowers that gracefully curve. They are a deep blue-violet, with intensity highlighted by a beautiful cluster of light stamens. This variety of modest size thrives on old walls, trellises, fences, as well as ground cover at the base of trees. Its numerous voluble stems allow it to climb anywhere, as long as it can use its tendrils! Ideal when paired with a bush, in a container or not.

Clematis belong to the Ranunculaceae family. 'Hudson River' is a recent cultivar obtained in the Netherlands and introduced to the market in 2015. This plant is derived from Clematis diversifolia, a hybrid between C.integrifolia and various forms of C.viticella. It is a perennial herbaceous climbing plant that reaches a height of 1.50m (5ft), with a spread of 90 cm (35in) to 1m (3ft). Deciduous, it completely dries out every winter and regrows numerous stems from its stump in spring.

The flowers measure 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3in) in diameter, appearing on the year's shoots from the month of June to September, either solitary or grouped in clusters. These curious bell-shaped flowers are actually tubes made up of 4 sepals fused together at the base, quickly separating into four distinct, elongated, slightly upturned, deeply veined elements. They have a particularly deep indigo-blue to violet-blue hue. The flowering is followed by feathery fruits that persist until winter, which are decorative and silver-gray. The leaves, sometimes glabrous, are single and entire, lanceolate to cordate, fairly dark green. This clematis climbs using tendrils formed from transformed petioles.

The 'Hudson River' Clematis can be used as a perennial plant in rock gardens and mixed borders. It will be perfect for free use as a garland or in the branches of a late-flowering bush (lilac, mock orange, deutzia). It will also adorn balconies, as it thrives in containers where, like in the garden, it should be trained on a trellis. Pair it in the garden or in homemade bouquets with shrub roses or other pastel blooms, allowing you to create very romantic arrangements.