Clematis 'Rhapsody'

Clematis 'Rhapsody' comes from British breeding and belongs to the large-flowered types. Its flowers measure 8–10 cm across and glow in a rich blue, ranging from sapphire to deep blue. Six broad sepals surround cream-yellow to yellow-green stamens, which set off the blue blooms beautifully.

At around 250 cm tall, 'Rhapsody' is compact enough for obelisks, trellises and climbing frames and also does well in a container on a terrace or balcony. It flowers from July to September, bringing colour to the second half of summer. Choose a sunny to semi-shaded spot with moist, well-drained soil; keep the root zone shaded with perennials or a layer of pebbles. For container growing, use a pot at least 45 cm deep.

'Rhapsody' is hardy to zone 5 (about -28.8 to -23.4 °C). Cut the plant back to about 50 cm in March so that it shoots vigorously. Plant it so that the root ball sits 5–8 cm below the soil surface; this encourages shoots from the base. It typically takes a few years for the plant to become fully established.