Blue Boy Clematis vs Opata Cherry Plum - TreeTime.ca

Blue Boy Clematis vs Opata Cherry Plum

Clematis integrifolia Blue Boy

Prunus besseyi x salicina Opata

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Blue Boy Clematis
Opata Cherry Plum

Blue Boy Clematis is a cold-hardy, fast growing, woody climbing vine. Hundreds of stunning steel-blue bell shaped flowers adorn the vine throughout the summer that droop and appear to hang in the air. The fibrous stems spread and create a fan-like symmetry shape.

This species will do best with support from a trellis, fence, or even other shrubs or tree stumps.

The Blue Boy Clematis was developed in Manitoba, Canada in 1947 by famous breeder Frank L. Skinner by crossing C. integrifolia x C. viticella, but it didn’t gain popularity until the 1990’s.

Opata Cherry Plum is considered to be one of the best tasting Cherry Plum varieties. It has a pleasant, sweet flavour and a hint of acidity. They ripen in mid to late August and are well suited to fresh eating, baking, and preserves.

The fruit is closer to a plum than a cherry but is smaller than most plums.The Opata Cherry Plum’s skin is red/green whereas the flesh is yellow-green. The flesh is freestone with a juicy, firm texture. Similar to other stone fruits, it does not store for very long.

The Opata Cherry Plum is a hybrid between a Western Sand Cherry and a Japanese (Chinese) Plum. For fruit production, it needs to be planted with another variety for cross-pollination. Canada Plum and American Plum are considered universal pollinizers.

Blue Boy Clematis Quick Facts

Opata Cherry Plum Quick Facts

Zone: 2b
Zone: 2a
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Height: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Spread: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
Spread: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: normal
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: full sun
Hybrid: yes
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Fruit size: 3 cm in diameter
Flavor: pleasant and sweet, hint of acidity
Harvest: mid to late August
Flowers: steel blue
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Maintenance: medium
Suckering: medium
Suckering: medium




Other Names: opata chum, opata plum cherry