I always thought that clematis was a climbing plant, but this variety Clematis recta ‘purpurea’ is an unusual variety in that it is a bushy plant that bursts out of the ground in spring with smoky-purple elliptical young leaves that gradually turn to green, with a purple cast, as they age. Then it is covered in fragrant little white star-shaped flowers. The autumn sees these delightful seed-heads with what look like tiny white feathers.
Earth laughs in flowers 
Gosh this is a little wonder, Jude. I don’t know it at all. Thanks for the intro.
I seems the choices for clematis are endless. Love this one & it looks a little heartier than some!
That’s right, I thought clematis is clematis is a climber. This one is beautiful, Jude!
I always thought it was a climbing plant too, one that I didn’t do very well at growing. 🙂
How unusual. I wouldn’t have picked this pretty plant as a clematis.
Me neither, but it matches the ID photos I have looked up, of course it would be lovely to see it in flower too.
So unusual Jude I, the same as everyone else, only thought of clematis as climbers. Where did you find this one?
I found this in the Wightwick Manor garden not too far away, wasn’t sure what it was, but it looks to match the ID. Maybe Tish can visit when it is in flower!
Weren’t you tempted to ‘rescue’ some of the seed heads Jude? It looks like real treasure to me. A couple others that don’t cling are Jouiania Praecox, a bit dull, and Alionuska, which is lovely.
LOL – when I first saw the title I was thinking “ground” as in herbs and spices, Jude. It is quite unusual.
It seems like the breeding of this cultivar has de-Clematised the Clematis.