Clematis alpina

Seed heads of clematis alpina 'Frances Rivis'. The flowers were spectacular this year, and held on for a long time. It was planted a couple of years or so ago and got off to a slow start. Then we had its supporting fence repaired and it was thoroughly trampled over and we thought it had had it. But last year it suddenly sprang up and grew vigorously, although without flowering. This spring it had a mass of glorious blue flowers which have progressed now to these shaggy seed heads, like sea urchins. Well worth its place in the garden.