Clematis ‘Rooguchi’ (Integrifolia Group)

Blooming over a very long season, Clematis ‘Rooguchi’ is a non-vining, multi-stemmed, herbaceous perennial boasting solitary, nodding, shiny purple, bell-shaped flowers, 2 in. long (5 cm). Blooming from spring to frost, each delicate blossom features four heavily ribbed tepals with recurving tips and a silvery-purple band. They contrast nicely with a bouquet of sunny yellow anthers. Hanging singly from the tip of a black stem, each flower rises above the lush foliage of elliptical, glossy, bright green leaves. They are followed by feathery, silvery seedheads, which further extend the season of interest of this clematis. Rooguchi clematis is a cross between Clematis integrifolia and C. x durandii. It was bred in Japan by Kazushige Ozawa to be a solitary blossom for the Japanese tea ceremony.

• Hardy, this clematis can quickly grow up to 6-8 ft. long (180-240 cm) and 3-4 ft. wide (90-120 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. Afternoon shade is appreciated in hot summer areas.
• Excellent choice for clambering through open shrubs or growing on a trellis. Its compact size is perfect for patio containers.
• 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.
• 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.