Clematis 'BLUE PIROUETTE'

Clematis 'Blue Pirouette' (registered as 'Zobluepi') was raised in 1992 by Dutch breeder Wim Snoeijer from a cross of 'Rosea' and 'Warszawska Nike', and introduced by J. van Zoest in 2003. Its 7 to 10 cm flowers appear in rich dark violet-blue with four slightly twisted, upward-facing sepals and a striking creamy-yellow centre of stamens – a colour contrast that gives the cultivar its lively character.

'Blue Pirouette' flowers abundantly from June to August. At around 170 cm, it grows upright and clump-forming rather than climbing – ideal for scrambling through low perennials and shrubs, training up an obelisk, or growing in a large container. Its upward-facing flowers also make excellent, long-lasting cut flowers. A sunny to semi-shaded spot with a cool root run suits it best.

'Blue Pirouette' is reliably hardy (zone 5, down to about -28 °C) and easy to care for. Cut the stems back hard to about 25 cm in March so the plant produces fresh, floriferous growth each year. After flowering, decorative silvery, feathery seedheads adorn the plant well into autumn.