Justa Clematis Plants

• Variety: Justa
• Latin name: Clematis 'Justa'
• Flower: Pale violet-blue with prominent yellow stamens, 5–6cm
• Scent: None
• Climbing method: Leaf-stalk tendril climber
• Height: To 1–1.5m
• Flowering: July–September
• Pruning group: Group 3 – cut back hard in February
• Planting depth: Plant 8–10cm below pot level
• Wilt resistance: Excellent; virtually immune to clematis wilt
• Hardiness: Fully hardy
• RHS AGM: No
• Sold as: P9 and 3L deep pots, grown from cuttings by us. Peat-free compost
• Plant outdoors: Year-round
• Delivered: March–November typically. Collection from Castle Cary also available

Clematis Justa – A Viticella for Small Spaces

Justa is a viticella clematis and it has all the positive characteristics you find in the viticellas: wilt-proof, tough, flowers freely from July to September, and asks almost nothing of you except a hard prune in February. The difference is size. Where Polish Spirit reaches 5m and Étoile Violette reaches 4m, Justa grows to a metre and a half at best. The flowers are pale violet-blue with prominent yellow stamens, smaller than the large-flowered hybrids but produced generously through the summer months. It climbs in the normal clematis way, gripping with its leaf-stalk tendrils, but it runs out of steam long before it runs out of support.

That compact habit makes Justa a different proposition from every other clematis in the range. It is ideal for a container on the patio with a small obelisk or a wigwam of canes. It works in a mixed border where it will clamber through a small shrub and poke its flowers through the foliage - ideally at a time of year when the shrub itself is not in flower. Its size means you can grow Justa on a balcony or in a courtyard, a tiny garden or in a pot  on a patch of concrete by the back door. (I have seen one on a houseboat - Ed). If you have always wanted a clematis but don't have the space, give Justa a go. And if you have lost a large-flowered hybrid to wilt and want something that will not do that to you again, then this has all that viticella disease resistance.

The Smallest Clematis in the Range

Most clematis are sold on their vigour. Justa is sold on the opposite because at 1–1.5m it won't overwhelm any suitable things for climbing that are in scale with a smaller garden. Cut it down to just above ground level somewhere between November and February, and it regrows in spring, so there is no permanent framework or tangle of old stems to deal with. And it starts flowering in July. A nice, easy maintenance plan.

Companions for a Compact Clematis

In a patio container, plant Justa with trailing hardy geraniums or low herbs (thyme, oregano) to help shade its roots. In a border, let it climb through a compact shrub like a small Ceanothus. If you are a clematis nut (and some of us are), plant Piilu (compact, May–June flowers) on a trellis behind Justa, giving you clematis from May to September without either plant exceeding 2m. If you put spring bulbs in the same bed you will get early colour before the clematis take over.

From Lithuania, via Our Nursery

Justa was bred by L. Bakevicius in Lithuania in 1988. We propagate it from cuttings at the nursery. Viticella types root well and grow reliably, so we lose very few in production. Peat-free compost, biological controls throughout. Your plant was grown by the same team who pack your order and answer your questions. Every plant is guaranteed and we are a Which? Gardening Best Buy. See all our clematis varieties.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall does Justa grow?

To about 1–1.5m, which makes it the most compact clematis in the Ashridge range. In a pot with a small obelisk it reaches the top of a 1.2m support and then nods outward under the weight of the flowers. In a border it stays below the eyeline and mingles with perennials and low shrubs rather than towering over them.

Can I grow Justa in a pot?

This is where it excels. Use a pot of at least 35cm diameter with good drainage, a loam-based compost, and a small obelisk or frame for the stems to grip. Water regularly through summer and feed with a low-nitrogen liquid fertiliser fortnightly from April to August. Cut to ground level in February. The plant is fully hardy in a pot.

Is Justa resistant to clematis wilt?

Yes. As a viticella, Justa has the same natural wilt resistance as Polish Spirit and Étoile Violette. If you have lost a clematis to wilt and want something reliable, the viticella group is the answer.

When should I prune Justa?

In February, cut all the previous year's growth to about 30cm above the ground, just above the lowest pair of strong buds. Justa flowers on the current season's growth, so last year's stems are spent. New growth appears quickly once the soil warms and the plant is in flower by July.

Does Justa need full sun?

It flowers best in sun or light shade. Like all viticellas it tolerates a range of conditions, but the display is fullest with at least half a day's sun. In a container, place the pot where it catches morning or afternoon sun. In a border, plant it where it is not completely overshadowed by taller neighbours.

What is the difference between Justa and the other viticellas?

Size; Justa has the same wilt resistance, the same ease of care, and the same Group 3 pruning as Polish Spirit and Étoile Violette, but at 1–1.5m it is a fraction of their height. It is a viticella for people who garden in pots, patios and small spaces.