Blue clematis (Clematis occidentalis) is a climbing vine found mostly in mixed forests in Western Canada.   In our drier climate, it often grows in mid-elevation gullies, winding around and climbing up shrubs.   The woody stems can grow to 2+ meters high with support, or as a trailing vine, even longer.

The leaves on the stems are situated on long stalks in an opposite position.    They are divided into 3 short-stalked roughly-lanceolate leaflets.   An Inflorescence of single flowers on longer erect stems branching off the previous year’s stems have four blue sepals surrounding a cluster of stamens and styles.    The sepals can be violet-blue or purple.

After flowering, distinctive clusters of seeds (achenes) form which become fluffy in the fall and disperse with fall and winter winds.

All of the photos in the gallery are taken by the author from our wider area.    Click any image for a gallery view.

 

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White clematis is a related species growing in drier, lower elevations.   It is robust vining plant found in the valleys of the region.