Photo by Missouri Botanical Garden
Am I Blue?
Clematis durandii has petals like spatulas, dark blue, and the stamens in the center of the flower are yellow. In spring, the woody center of the plant, low to the ground, sends up fast-growing straight stems that rise vertically. They don’t have tendrils, so you have to tie them to a support a time or two and space them as you go. When mine reach five tall, they switch from growing to making flowers, lots of them. After that, they take care of themselves.
I tie the stems to a lattice and orient them so the flowers face in the same direction. The result is a tall green rectangle of leaves behind a galaxy of blue stars that last at least a month--unless the ground turns hot and dry. This year the rains were so steady and heavy that the plant kept growing after it first bloomed. I cut off the spent flowers and new buds formed and new flowers opened. Sort of a reward for all the soggy days.
By Mark Kane - the Groundskeeper, YourGardenShow.com
Copyright © 2012 YourGardenShow.com
Video by Tom Finerty, founder YourGardenShow.com
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