Clematis integrifolia x viticella Eriostemon

The Clematis Eriostemon is a very old hybrid variety that is sometimes likened to the Clematis (x) diversifolia Hendersonii, which is difficult to distinguish from it. It is both a bushy perennial plant and a small climber. Its slightly scented flowers bloom throughout the summer, in the form of pendulous bells with a deep blue-violet colour that shines in the sun. Its feathery and silky fruits are an adornment for the garden during the winter. Hardy, highly floriferous, and resistant to wilt disease, it lounges among its neighbours and seems to thrive on the air. Plant it near a bush or in a perennial bed, and it will surprise you! This clematis, unlike any other, adapts to all regions and also grows well in pots!

Clematis belong to the buttercup family. They can be found in both hemispheres, especially in Europe, the Himalayas, China, Australia, and North and Central America. The 'Eriostemon' variety was obtained in England in 1835 by crossing Clematis integrifolia with C. viticella. Its first parent is a herbaceous species with a woody stump that is highly resistant, originating from thickets in central Europe, Russia, and China. The second parent, native to southern Europe, is a species particularly resistant to diseases and rather dry soils. It is therefore not surprising that the Eriostemon clematis proves to be robust and adaptable, perfectly perennial and hardy.

Semi-woody and not very climbing, the Eriostemon clematis develops slender, purple-tinged stems from its stump in spring, intertwining into a bushy mass that reaches a height and width of 1.50 to 2 meters (5 to 7 feet). It clings to its support or neighboring plants via petioles transformed into tendrils. The flowering period is from June to September if the soil remains slightly moist. During dry summers, it will take a rest in August and resume in September. The solitary, pendulous, star-shaped flowers have 4 petals and measure 6-7 cm (2-3in) in diameter. They have fairly wide petals, often curved at the edges, with a very bright blue-violet colour. The center of the flower is adorned with cream-yellow to green stamens. The flowering is followed by  decorative feathery, silver-gray fruits that persist until winter. The deciduous leaves are pinnate, with lanceolate leaflets and acute tips, and are glabrous, with a fairly deep green colour. The above-ground vegetation dries up in winter and should be pruned in March.

Plant it alongside your perpetual roses to accompany their long summer flowering and fill in their sometimes bare base. The association with the small apples of ornamental apple trees (Malus 'Everest' or 'Van Eseltine') is also very charming, as is the combination with the orange bells of the Clematis 'Orange Peel'. Clematis represents a genus rich in diversity, with varieties available in all colours, forms, and sizes. Simply choose the ones that will flourish in your climate. Take advantage of their easy cultivation to give your garden a romantic and bohemian touch. The amazing Eriostemon clematis will even thrive in mountainous regions and in the Mediterranean. Thanks to its semi-herbaceous growth habit, it will thrive perfectly in a pot on a balcony or in a bed invaded by perennial peas, variegated ivy, and small-flowered periwinkles.