Clematis diversifolia Rooguchi

The Clematis diversifolia Rooguchi is a recent Japanese cultivar, a delightful climbing plant that produces intensely blue-violet and highly veined bell-shaped flowers from spring to autumn. This modest-sized variety thrives on old walls, trellises, fences, and also 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 combined with a bush, in a container or not.

Clematis belong to the renonculaceae family. 'Rooguchi' is a recent cultivar obtained in Japan, derived from Clematis diversifolia. It is a herbaceous perennial climbing plant that reaches 2 m (7ft) in height, with a spread of 60 cm (24in). Deciduous, it completely dries out every winter.

The flowers are bell-shaped and measure 4 to 5 cm (2in) in length, appearing on new shoots from the month of June to September, either solitary or grouped in cymes. The fragrant bell-shaped flowers are actually tubes consisting of 4 fused tepals, resembling campanula flowers and displaying an indigo blue shade, fading towards the edge that appears silvery. 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, with a bright and glossy green colour. This clematis climbs on the support or host plant by means of petioles transformed into tendrils.

Clematis 'Roogushi' 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 performs well in containers where it should be trained on a trellis, just like in the garden. Combine it with shrub roses or other pastel blooms to create romantic compositions.