About
Clematis 'Columbine' is a vigorous climbing plant that can reach heights of 2 to 4 meters. It features green foliage and distinctive nodding, bell-shaped flowers measuring 3 to 8 centimeters in diameter. Each flower is made up of four pointed sepals that start as pale lavender-blue, measuring 4 to 5 centimeters long, and gradually transition to a grey-blue hue. The flowers also showcase creamy white or green staminodes. This variety blooms in spring and early summer, attracting bees for their pollen, while some may also offer nectar.
About the genus
Clematis includes a variety of plants, ranging from deciduous and evergreen shrubs to herbaceous perennials. Many of these species are climbers, utilizing twining leaf stalks for support, and they frequently produce prominent flowers. In the fall, certain varieties develop appealing fluffy seed heads.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, South-facing, North-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H6
Plant details
- Plant type
- Climber Wall Shrub
- Habit
- Climbing
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 2.5-4 metres
- Spread
- 1-1.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants
- Toxicity
- Skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets (rabbits): Harmful if eaten. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in full sun or partial shade in containers (at least 45cm deep and wide) or in the ground, in cool, moisture-retentive, well-drained soil, with the crown 5-8cm deep to encourage new shoots to grow from below ground level; keep the base of the plant and the roots cool and shaded by other plants or a layer of pebbles or flat stones; for more advice, see clematis cultivation
- Pruning
- Clematis pruning: group one
- Propagation
- Propagate by internodal leaf-bud semi-ripe cuttings taken from spring to late summer, or by layering from late winter to spring
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to aphids, snails and caterpillars; petals may be eaten by earwigs
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), clematis wilt and clematis slime flux