Clematis 'Blue Bird'

Clematis macropetala 'Blue Bird' was raised around 1962 by the Canadian breeder Frank L. Skinner; it is a cross between Clematis macropetala and Clematis alpina or sibirica. Its nodding, bell-shaped flowers are semi-double and measure 6-8 cm; the narrow, slightly twisted tepals glow in a clear lavender-blue.

'Blue Bird' flowers from April to May on the previous year's wood, and occasionally shows a second, lighter flush in summer. Growing to about 300 cm, it clothes trellises, pergolas and fences and can also be grown in a large container. It thrives from full sun to partial shade – what matters is moist, well-drained soil in which the root area stays cool and shaded.

The variety is very hardy (zone 5, down to about -28 °C) and regarded as robust and undemanding. For vigorous growth and plentiful flowers the following year, cut 'Blue Bird' back to about 100 cm in June. Plant it 5-8 cm deeper than it stood in its pot – this encourages strong new shoots from the base.