Clematis 'Ozawa Blue'

Clematis 'Ozawa Blue' comes from the Japanese breeder K. Ozawa and is a selected form of the herbaceous Clematis integrifolia. It bears small, nodding bell-shaped flowers about 3 cm across in a clear mid-blue; the long, slightly twisted sepals give the blooms a dainty, elegant shape, and they release a delicate scent.

'Ozawa Blue' flowers from June to August and stays pleasantly compact at around 75 cm tall. As a herbaceous clematis it does not climb high but forms a loose, bushy plant that suits containers and pots, the edge of a perennial bed, edging or ground cover. It grows best in a sunny to partly shaded spot in moist, well-drained soil.

'Ozawa Blue' is fully hardy (zone 5, down to about -23.4 to -28.8 °C). Cut the plant back to about 10 cm in March so that it shoots strongly and flowers abundantly in summer. When cutting and planting, wear gloves, as the sap can irritate the skin.