Clematis 'Utsusemi'

150-713D4 Clematis 'Utsusemi'
Joy Creek Photo Archive (c) all rights reserved	Mikiyoshi Chikuma selected this from among the seedlings his uncle Kazushige Ozawa left behind at the time of his death. It is named for a character in the Tales of Genji. This is an incredibly attractive and visually well-balanced plant. Even though Clematis 'Utsusemi' does not climb, it stands upright and does not require support. Because it blooms very early, it is especially valuable. And, if dead-headed, it will continue to produce flowers throughout the summer. If you chose not to dead-head, its lovely seed-heads and rigid, broad and somewhat woolly leaves are attractive. The nodding flowers are slender and urn-shaped and are produced singly at the terminals of the flower stems. Their four sepals are violet at their bases, this color fades to greenish white at the tips. The sepal tips recurve fully revealing the pale violet within. The flowers and their dark stems are covered in fine hairs. They make good cut flowers for bud vases. All of our Clematis are two year old plants that are suitable for immediate planting in your garden. Late March to September. 12-15 in. Pale Violet flowers *Sun Zones 6, 7, 8, 9*
Dead-heading encourages this plant to continue to produce flowers throughout the season. Because it is an herbaceous clematis, cut it back hard during the winter. Be sure to feed the plant when you cut it back.