Clematis 'Sizaja Ptitsa'

Clematis 'Sizaja Ptitsa' was bred in 1967 by Ukrainian breeder M. A. Beskaravainaja from a cross of 'Durandii' and 'Candida' and named in 1979 – the Russian name means "Blue Bird". It bears large violet flowers 8 to 10 cm across, with narrow, slightly twisted tepals and a darker central stripe; the filaments shimmer whitish-violet and the anthers glow purplish-red.

From July to September, 'Sizaja Ptitsa' produces a continuous succession of flowers and reaches a height of around 250 cm. Unlike true climbing clematis, it does not cling with leaf-stalks but leans with its flexible stems against neighbouring plants or low supports – making it an excellent companion for shrubs and roses, along low trellises, or as a dense ground cover in a sunny to partly shaded spot.

'Sizaja Ptitsa' is reliably hardy (zone 5, down to about -23.4 °C) and vigorous. Cut it back hard to about 25 cm every March (pruning group 3) so it can put on strong new growth and flower generously. Once established, it is low-maintenance and copes well with a little drought or neglect.