1. Blue clematis, 2. Clematis occidentalis ‘Purple Clematis’, 3. Clematis occidentalis Bud, 4. Seed of Columbia Clematis

Clematis are popular for their beautifully showy papery flowers.   Surprisingly there are a whole slew of them that are actually native to the USA.  There is Clematis occidentalis, Clematis adisonii, Clematis columbiana tenuiloba, Clematis ligusticifolia, and Clematis virginiana to name few.

This one is less climby and more shrubby — getting to only 3- 4 ft tall.  But it’s simple floppy flowers and it’s ability to withstand winters well into Northern Canada make this alpine-like clematis a great option for a soft romantic northern garden.