Clematis pitcheri (Viorna Group)

Clematis pitcheri (Bellflower Clematis) is a herbaceous, perennial climber boasting masses of nodding, urn-shaped, purple to brick-red flowers, 1 in. wide (2.5 cm). Blooming from late spring to early fall, each long-lasting flower bears 4 ribbed tepals recurved at the tips and slightly ruffled margins. Blooming profusely over a very long season, Bellflower Clematis has a handsome foliage of opposite leaves divided into 2-8 ovate to lanceolate leaflets. The blossoms are followed by very ornamental, fluffy, dark red to dark brown seedheads, which remain on the plant, adding further interest. Vigorous and floriferous, Bellflower Clematis climbs by means of twining petioles. It can twine through nearby shrubs or simply be allowed to ramble across the ground. Fairly heat and drought-tolerant, it dies to the ground in fall.

• Grows up to 10-13 ft. long (300-390 cm) and 2-3 ft. wide (60-90 cm).
• Thrives in moist, well-drained soils, in full sun or part shade. Ideally, Clematis prefer having their ‘heads in the sun and their feet in the shade’. Keep the roots cool and shaded by other plants or add a layer of pebbles or flat stones at the base. Tolerant of a wide range of soil types, including rocky and sandy soils, as long as the soil is evenly moist and well-drained.
• This Clematis belongs to the third group of Clematis – a group including Clematis which flower in late summer on growth made in that season. They should be pruned in late winter or early spring and require ‘hard pruning’: simply cut back the stems to a pair of strong buds about 1ft. (30 cm) above ground level before growth begins in early spring.
• Native to northern Mexico, southern and central United States.
• Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.

As climbers, Clematis are unsurpassed in their long flowering presence, their rich diversity of flower shapes, their wide array of colors and tolerances in terms of exposure and climate. It is no wonder they are so popular! From tree huggers to container varieties, there is a Clematis for every garden and flowers for almost every month of the year! Members of the Ranunculaceae family, they include more than 300 species and hundreds of hybrids. They create year after year a ravishing colorful show in the garden whether solely trained on walls, arbors or trellises, or grown in association with other climbers. They are divided into 3 groups which determine how they should be pruned. Regular pruning of Clematis is important as it promotes strong growth and flowering as well as a harmonious plant. If left unpruned, Clematis can turn into a mass of tangled stems with a bare base and flowers well above eye level.