Boulevard Samaritan Joe Clematis
Boulevard Samaritan Joe Clematis
Lavender-Blue Blooms Edged in Deeper Violet on a Compact Vine
Boulevard Samaritan Joe Clematis (Clematis 'Samaritan Joe', Boulevard™ series) carries soft lavender-blue flowers brushed with a deeper violet picotee edge, blooming from early summer into fall. A compact, well-mannered patio clematis, it's built for containers and small supports rather than large arbors, and it's zone 4 hardy with the usual preference: top in the sun, roots in cool shade. Whether you're filling a patio pot in Edina, climbing a deck trellis in Maple Grove, or brightening a narrow fence in Woodbury — Samaritan Joe brings refined two-tone color to zone 4b–5a yards.
Boulevard Samaritan Joe Clematis Plant Details
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Clematis 'Samaritan Joe' (Boulevard™) |
| Plant Type | Compact deciduous flowering vine |
| Mature Height | 4–6 feet (with support) |
| Mature Spread | 2–3 feet |
| Sun | Full sun to part shade (6+ hours for best bloom); keep the roots cool and shaded |
| Water | Moderate — consistent moisture in well-draining soil; water containers often |
| USDA Zones | 4–9 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a) |
| Soil | Rich, well-draining; amend Minnesota clay-loam with compost |
| Pruning Group | Group 2 — light prune in early spring; blooms on old and new wood |
| Bloom | Lavender-blue flowers with a deeper picotee edge, early summer into fall |
| Winter Hardiness | Reliable to zone 4; mulch the crown the first winter |
Boulevard Samaritan Joe Clematis Uses in Minnesota Landscapes
Patio containers
Like the rest of the Boulevard series, Samaritan Joe is happiest in a large pot with an obelisk on a sunny patio in Plymouth or Eden Prairie, where its tidy habit shows off the two-tone blooms.
Small trellises and rails
Train it up a deck rail, lattice, or doorway trellis where a full-size clematis would be too rangy.
Cut flowers and pollinators
The picotee-edged flowers are striking in arrangements, and bees visit them through the long bloom season.
Best Time to Plant Boulevard Samaritan Joe Clematis in Minnesota
Spring (late April–May) and early fall (late August–September) are both excellent. Avoid summer heat, and never plant after mid-October — frost-heaving kills new roots.
How to Plant Boulevard Samaritan Joe Clematis
- Site it so the top gets sun but the roots stay cool and shaded — "head in the sun, feet in the shade."
- Dig 2–3× the root ball width and set the plant 2–3 inches deeper than it grew in the pot to guard against clematis wilt.
- Backfill with native soil plus 20–30% compost; for containers use a quality potting mix. Water in well.
- Install the support at planting and tie young stems to start them climbing.
- Mulch 2–3 inches over the root zone; keep mulch off the stems.
Watering Boulevard Samaritan Joe Clematis in Minnesota
First Year Watering Schedule
- Weeks 1–2: Every 2–3 days, deep and slow
- Month 1–2: Every 3–4 days
- Month 3–6: Weekly; containers may need water every 1–2 days in summer heat
- Stop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities).
After Year One
Water deeply during dry spells. Container plants dry out fast — check them daily in summer and keep evenly moist.
How do I prune Samaritan Joe?
It's a Group 2 clematis: in early spring, remove only dead or weak stems and trim lightly to strong buds. Hard pruning would cost you the early flowers on old wood.
Can I overwinter it in a pot in Minnesota?
Pot roots are more cold-exposed. For best survival, sink the pot in the ground, move it to an unheated garage, or plant it in the landscape before winter.
Will it survive a Minnesota winter?
In the ground, yes — hardy to zone 4. Mulch the crown the first winter or two.
You May Also Like
- Boulevard Sacha Clematis — violet-blue patio clematis from the same compact series
- Bees Jubilee Clematis — large mauve-pink with a carmine bar
- Piilu Clematis — compact pink clematis, often double on old wood