Clematis 'Justa' is a particularly appealing variety, prized for its exceptionally free-flowering nature and tidy, non-aggressive habit. It is a deciduous climber, meaning its leaves will drop in the autumn and fresh new foliage will emerge in the spring.

Its most notable feature is the profusion of dainty, star-shaped flowers. These are a lovely pale lavender-blue or mauve-blue, with each sepal often having a subtle light purple or lilac bar down the middle, beautifully contrasting with a central boss of prominent creamy-yellow stamens. This abundance of blooms appears reliably from midsummer to early autumn (typically July through to September), giving you months of colour. It is generally not considered to be a strongly scented variety.

Size and Growing Habit

Unlike some of its more vigorous cousins, 'Justa' is celebrated for being a wonderfully compact variety. It rarely exceeds an ultimate height of 1.5 to 2.5 metres (around 5 to 8 feet) and has a relatively modest spread. This makes it a perfect plant for smaller gardens, courtyards, or, very notably, for growing in containers on a patio, where its height can be easily managed on a small obelisk or trellis. It climbs by twining its leaf stalks around supports, so a trellis or wiring is advisable.

Care and Maintenance

This clematis is generally very easy to care for and is fully hardy in the UK climate. It thrives best when planted in moist, well-drained soil. Like most clematis, it prefers a planting spot where its 'head is in the sun' (or light shade) to encourage flowering, but its 'feet are in the shade' to keep the roots cool. You can achieve this by planting other low-growing perennials at its base or simply adding a layer of pebbles or mulch.

Watering should be regular, especially during the first few growing seasons, ensuring the soil remains evenly moist but never waterlogged.

'Justa' belongs to Pruning Group 3 (or the Viticella Group), which makes its maintenance incredibly simple. In late winter or early spring, you can prune the entire plant back hard—simply cut all the previous year’s stems down to a pair of strong buds about 20-30cm (8-12 inches) above ground level. This yearly 'hard pruning' keeps the plant tidy and stimulates vigorous new growth for a fantastic flowering display that year.

Note: Clematis are generally considered to be mildly toxic. They contain protoanemonin, which can act as a skin irritant and is harmful if eaten. It is best to wear gloves when pruning and ensure pets or children do not ingest any part of the plant.