Clematis 'Star River'

Clematis 'Star River' was raised in 2000 by Dutch breeder Wim Snoeijer, selected in 2004 and introduced in 2008 under the cultivar name 'Zostarri'. Its star-shaped, slightly nodding flowers open in a delicate pale blue with darker bars on the reverse of the tepals and creamy-yellow stamens; at 6-8 cm across, they count among the medium-sized clematis blooms.

From May to September, 'Star River' produces a continuous succession of new flowers on the current year's growth. Reaching a maximum height of around 150 cm, it stays pleasantly compact and is therefore well suited to containers, small trellises and obelisks as well as borders with limited space. As its stems do not climb by themselves, it benefits from a support or a neighbouring shrub to lean on; a sunny position favours abundant flowering.

'Star River' is very reliably hardy (zone 4, down to about -34 °C) and copes well with harsh winters outdoors. For vigorous regrowth and abundant flowering, cut the plant back hard to about 10 cm in March – this radical pruning encourages flowering throughout the whole season.