Stand by Me

Clematis

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Blue Ribbons'

Summary: The pedicel of 'Stand by Me' is shorter than that of 'Blue Ribbons'. The flower of 'Stand by Me' is smaller in diameter than that of 'Blue Ribbons'. The sepal of 'Stand by Me' is smaller than that of 'Blue Ribbons'. The sepal of 'Stand by Me' has strong reflexing while that of 'Blue Ribbons' has a medium degree of reflexing. The inner side of the sepal of 'Stand by Me' is blue violet with lighter blue violet along the margin while that of 'Blue Ribbons' is violet blue with light violet blue along the margin. The outer side of the sepal of 'Stand by Me' is violet blue with light violet blue along the margin whereas the sepal of 'Blue Ribbons' is blue violet with violet blue to light violet blue along the margin. The sepal of 'Stand by Me' has very weak to weak twisting along the longitudinal axis whereas the sepal of 'Blue Ribbons' has a medium degree of twisting.

Description:

PLANT: non-climbing type, semi-upright growth habit

YOUNG SHOOT: no pubescence

LEAF: simple type
LEAF BLADE: ovate, rounded apex, rounded base, entire margin, no lobing, no variegation
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): medium green, absent or weak rugosity

FLOWERING: only on current year's growth, begins early to mid-season
FLOWER: solitary arrangement, attitude is outwards that turns downwards when open, single type, campanulate shape, only four sepals, weak fragrance
SEPAL: lanceolate, concave in cross-section, strong reflexing of apex, acute apex, type one base, more than one colour on inner side, mainly blue violet (RHS 90A) on inner side, blue violet (RHS 90D) along margin on inner side, mainly violet blue (RHS 93A) on outer side, light violet blue (RHS 93D) along margin on outer side, weak undulation of margin, very weak to weak degree of twisting along longitudinal axis
PETALOID STAMINODES: medium to many, yellow on inner side
FILAMENT: white
ANTHER: white
STIGMA: white
STYLE: white

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Stand by Me' originated from a cross between two unnamed varieties, female parent Clematis fremontii and the male parent Clematis integrifolia, through recurrent selection breeding. Seed from individual female parent plants was collected from the breeders' garden in Waseca, Minnesota, USA in early 2008. Seed was sown by Hans Hansen in Zeeland, Michigan, USA in late 2009 with initial selections made in spring 2012, based on flower colour and plant growth habit. This variety was further propagated by shoot tip cuttings in spring 2013.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Stand by Me' was conducted in an outdoor container trial in 2019 at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario. The trial included a total of 15 plants each of the candidate and reference variety. All plants were grown in 23cm pots spaced 40cm apart. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or parts of plants, in July 2019. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Stand by Me' with reference variety 'Blue Ribbons'

Pedicel length (cm)

Flower diameter (cm)

Sepal length (cm)

Sepal width (cm)

Colour of inner side of sepal (RHS)

Colour of outer side of sepal (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Clematis: 'Stand by Me' (left) with reference variety 'Blue Ribbons' (right)