Blue Dancer Blue Clematis

Clematis alpina ‘Blue Dancer’ is an early flowering, deciduous clematis with nodding pale blue flowers and white staminodes. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) recognizes this exact cultivar name and describes it as a climber for spring and early summer display. Its eventual size varies with conditions, so use the published ranges as a guide. ## Flowers and size The [RHS profile for Blue Dancer](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/153927/clematis-alpina-blue-dancer/details) gives a height of 2–3 m in its prose and 2.5–4 m in its max-height field, with spread of 1–1.5 m. The height statements differ, so the catalog label spans their combined 2–4 m range (about 6.6–13.1 ft); the spread converts to about 3.3–4.9 ft. The profile records UK hardiness H6, which is not a USDA zone and is not converted here. ## Siting Train the vine on a trellis, fence, or through a shrub where its hanging flowers can be viewed. It can also grow in a large container; keep the root area cool and the growing medium moist but well drained. ## Maintenance This is a pruning Group 1 clematis. Restrict pruning to removing dead or damaged stems after flowering or before new growth, and avoid a hard annual cutback because it blooms on older growth.