9 Dazzling Blue Clematis Varieties (Pictures & Care Tips)

Flowers with blue color are considered to be very limited. However, clematis is one of the very few flowering plants that have a lot of (50+) blue varieties. Most of these blue clematis varieties are hybrid and their dazzling blue color is perfect for adding charm to trellises, walls, and fences.

In this article, certified horticulturist Anthony Selva walks you through 10 of the most favorite blue clematis varieties that you can grow immediately in your garden.

Each blue clematis variety mentioned in this article provides a brief description and tips that help you to identify and grow these flowering vines and shrubs easily.

1. Clematis ‘Alblo’

Clematis ‘Alblo’ is commonly known by its trade name Alan Bloom. Unlike most other blue clematis varieties in this article, Alan Bloom is not a climber. Instead, they are shrubs that grow bushy dark green leaves.

From mid-summer to early autumn, clematis ‘Albo’ produce tubular, hyacinth-shaped flowers that are 2-2.75 cm long and 4cm wide. The flowers are composed of four dark blue petals, white filaments, and yellow anthers.

Clematis ‘Albo’ thrives in well-draining potting soil that is moist all the time. Full sun is recommended for bushy foliage and dense flowers, but, they manage well in partial shade as well.

• Other Name(s): Alan Bloom, Bressingham Bluebird
• Origin: England (Hybrid)
• Plant Group: Heraclefolia
• Pruning Group: 3
• Plant Height: 2-3ft (0.6-0.9m)
• Flowering Season: Summer to Early Autumn
• Maintenance: Medium
• Light Exposure: Full Sun
• USDA Zones: 5-9
• UK RHS Zones: H3-H6

2. Clematis ‘Alice Fisk’

Clematis ‘Alice Fisk’ is a hardy deciduous climbing vine developed by Clematis Nursery of Suffolk, England in 1967. This dazzling blue variety is a hybrid between C. ‘Lasurstern’ and C. ‘Mrs. Cholmondeley’, two lavender blue clematis varieties.

From late spring to early summer, ‘Alice Fisk’ blooms medium-sized flowers (6-8in) with eight textured petals and brown stamens.

When it comes to growing conditions, Clematis ‘Alice Fisk’ vines are not very strict. They grow well in pretty much most garden soils that have average drainage and nutrition. Under moderate conditions, these plants can grow up to 8ft (2.4m) in height.

• Other Name(s): Clematis Jackmanii ‘Alice Fisk’
• Origin: England (Hybrid)
• Plant Group: Hybrids
• Pruning Group: 2
• Plant Height: 6-8ft (1.8-2.4m)
• Flowering Season: Spring to Autumn
• Maintenance: Low
• Light Exposure: Full Sun
• USDA Zones: 4-9
• UK RHS Zones: H3-H6

3. Clematis ‘Gabrielle’

Clematis ‘Gabrielle’ is a hardy, moderately vigorous, a deciduous climbing vine whose nativity is still unknown. There are no online or offline records available to find out whether this blue flower variety is a natural plant or a hybrid.

They produce single-layer, lavender-blue flowers from late spring to early summer. These flowers are 5-6 inches wide across, making them one of the large flower clematis varieties. The flowers are comprised of six boat-shaped petals, cream filaments, and maroon or dark red anthers.

Similar to most other varieties, Clematis ‘Gabrielle’ thrives in full sun and does just fine in partial sun or shade. Under proper conditions, they can reach a mature height of up to 3 m in two years.

• Other Name(s): –
• Origin: Unknown
• Plant Group: –
• Pruning Group: 2
• Plant Height: 8-10ft (2.5-3m)
• Flowering Season: Spring to summer
• Maintenance: Moderate
• Light Exposure: Full sun
• USDA Zones: 4-9
• UK RHS Zones: H3-H6

4. Clematis ‘Anders’

Clematis ‘Anders’ is a selected form of naturally found C. macropetala, another clematis variety with lavender-blue flowers. Similar to its parent plant and other siblings in the genus, Clematis ‘Anders’ is moderately vigorous and hardy.

This deciduous climbing vine puts out semi-double lavender blue flowers with narrow and pointed petals that are 4-5cm long. On the petal edges, a light silver coating exists. The usual flowering season is mid-spring to late spring, but under proper conditions and bloom boosters, some plants can bloom in late summer as well.

Just like most other blue clematis varieties mentioned, these plants tolerate well-drained garden soil. When it comes to light preferences, full sun is recommended.

• Other Name(s): Clematis macropetala ‘Anders’
• Origin: Sweden
• Plant Group: Atragene
• Pruning Group: 1
• Plant Height: 6.5-10ft (2-3m)
• Flowering Season: Spring
• Maintenance: Low
• Light Exposure: Full & Partial Sun
• USDA Zones: 3-9
• UK RHS Zones: H3-H6

5. Clematis ‘Frankie’

Among clematis varieties, Clematis ‘Frankie’ is one of the first to bloom in the spring. It is a special variant of C. alpina, another blue clematis variety. Clematis ‘Frankie’ is a moderately vigorous, reasonably strong, and hardy climber, just like its most other siblings in the genus.

From mid-spring to late spring, Clematis ‘Frankie’ produce mid-blue flowers that have four broad petals. Additionally, the tips of the petals are tinted with pale blue and have creamy white staminodes.

When it comes to Clematis ‘Frankie’ growing conditions, they are pretty obvious about soil mixture. Without a well-draining medium, these plants dry off easily. Also, full sun is pretty much required throughout the growing and flowering season.

• Other Name(s): C. alpina ‘Frankie’
• Origin: England
• Plant Group: Antragene
• Pruning Group: 1
• Plant Height: 8-10ft (2.5-3m)
• Flowering Season: Spring
• Maintenance: Medium
• Light Exposure: Full Sun
• USDA Zones: 3-9
• UK RHS Zones: H3-H6

6. Clematis ‘Blue Bird’

Clematis ‘Blue Bird’ is a hardy, moderately vigorous, deciduous climbing vine that was bred in Manitoba, Canada (1962). It is a cross between C. macropetala and C.alpina, two blue clematis varieties.

It produces bell-shaped semi-double flowers that have mauvish blue flowers. These flowers are comprised of four narrow and twisted petals, each of them 6cm in length. Similar to the previous C. ‘Frankie’, the Blue Bird flower also has pale blue petal tips and creamy white stamens.

Clematis ‘Blue Bird’ is not very strict about its growing conditions and can adapt to most conditions. However, for vigorous growth, they require full sun and moist nutritious soils. They can reach a maximum height of 8-10ft (2.5-3m) in two years. Their usual flowering season is from mid-spring to late spring, but sometimes they may also put out late summer blooms.

• Other Name(s): C. macropetala ‘Blue Bird’
• Origin: Canada
• Plant Group: Atragene
• Pruning Group: 1
• Plant Height: 8-10ft (2.4-3m)
• Flowering Season: Spring & Summer
• Maintenance: Medium
• Light Exposure: Full & Partial Sun
• USDA Zones: 3-9
• UK RHS Zones: H3-H6

7. Clematis ‘Elvan’

Clematis ‘Elvan’ is a hardy, completely vigorous, and deciduous climber raised in the Peveril Clematis nursery of England. The exact origin of this plant is not known, however, it is assumed to be a selected variant of Clematis viticella, a bluish-purple variety that is based out of Italy.

They bloom from midsummer to late summer. This is one of the very few blue clematis varieties that produce many flowers in a single season. And flowers are not properly blue, instead, have a purple-blue shade. The flowers have four petals with a diffused pale white bar along the midrib.

Elvan can adjust to conditions pretty easily. Clematis ‘Elvan’ can reach a maximum height of 13ft (4m) and can adjust to needs pretty easily just like most other clematis varieties.

• Other Name(s): C. viticella ‘Elvan’
• Origin: England
• Plant Group: Viticella
• Pruning Group: 3
• Plant Height: 10-13ft (3-4m)
• Flowering Season: Summer
• Maintenance: Medium
• Light Exposure: Full Sun
• USDA Zones: 3-9
• UK RHS Zones: H3-H6

8. Clematis ‘Blue Dancer’

Clematis ‘Blue Dancer is a moderately vigorous, hardy, and deciduous climbing vine raised by Guernsey Clematis Nursery. Even though the real parentage of this variety is unknown, they are considered to be a variant of Clematis alpina due to their similarity in looks.

From mid-spring to late spring Clematis ‘Blue Dancer’ produces pale blue flowers. They are composed of four narrow and pointed petals. The short and pale creamy green staminodes also look like petals. Since it is a part of pruning group 1, they have to be pruned immediately after the flowering period.

• Other Name(s): C. alpina ‘Blue Dancer’
• Origin: English Islands
• Plant Group: Atragene
• Pruning Group: 1
• Plant Height: 8-10ft (2.5-3m)
• Flowering Season: Spring
• Maintenance: Medium
• Light Exposure: Full & Partial Sun
• USDA Zones: 3-9
• UK RHS Zones: H3-H6

9. Clematis ‘Campanile’

Clematis ‘Campanile’ is a hybrid cross between C. heracleifolia and C. stans, two blue similar clematis varieties. Unlike most other varieties in this list, Clematis ‘Campanile’ is not a vine, instead, it is a sub-shrub with bushy leaves.

From midsummer to early autumn, they develop pale-blue, tubular, single flowers that are quite small (3cm) compared to most others in this list. The flowers have four petals and the tips of the petals curl backward as it matures. 

Clematis ‘Campanile’ is one of the varieties with no fragrance. So, if you are allergic to fragrance, then this blue clematis variety is an ideal choice for you.

• Other Name(s): C. heracleifolia ‘Campanile’
• Origin: France
• Plant Group: Herbaceous
• Pruning Group: 3
• Plant Height: 3-4ft (1-1.2m)
• Flowering Season: Summer to Autumn
• Maintenance: Beginner friendly
• Light Exposure: Full/Partial Sun
• USDA Zones: 5-9
• UK RHS Zones: H3-H6

Sources

To back up the information we provide in our articles, the Plantials team only uses high-quality sources published in peer-reviewed university or scientific research journals.

1. An Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Clematis, Book By Mary Toomey & Everett Leeds, British Clematis Society.
2. Guernsey Clematis Nursery
3. Gardenia Plant Finder
4. Encyclopedia of Plants & Flowers, A Book By The Royal Horticultural Society.