Clematis ‘Bijou’ (often sold as Evipo030) is a highly compact, dwarf, deciduous climber or mounding perennial, specifically bred for small spaces, containers, and patio gardening. Introduced by renowned breeder Raymond Evison, it is part of the Tudor Patio™ series. It is not a rose, but rather a clematis that forms a dense, bushy mound.
Key Characteristics:
- Appearance: Produces a profusion of large (8-12 cm or 3-4 inch) violet-purple to mauve flowers, often with a slightly pinkish bar down the center of each petal and ruffled margins.
- Size: Very compact, typically growing to only 30-60 cm (1-2 ft) in height and spread.
- Flowering Time: Early to mid-summer, often with a second flush later in the season.
- Habit: While it can climb slightly, it is best described as a mounding or creeping, non-climbing form that is excellent for hanging baskets, pots, and ground cover.
- Hardiness: Fully hardy (Zones 4-9).
Cultivation and Care:
- Position: Thrives in full sun to partial shade.
- Soil: Prefers moist, well-drained, fertile soil.
- Pruning: Falls into Pruning Group 3. It should be pruned hard in early spring, cutting stems back to the lowest pair of buds.
- Maintenance: Low maintenance, but benefits from having its roots kept cool and shaded by other plants or mulch.
- Uses: Ideal for small gardens, container gardening, and spilling over walls or edges of planters.
