Growing Clematis

Clematis is a wonderful climbing vine that produces many large, beautiful flowers. To have a continuous flush of color from spring through fall, be sure to plant a mixture of early, mid season and late season bloomers.  Some clematis varieties will grow up to 20 feet in length, all the while wrapping around anything that will support it’s branches.  

How To Grow Clematis

Clematis do best when their roots are cool and their foliage is in the warm sun. About 4” of mulch will help keep the roots cool. Most Clematis need at least 5 to 6 hours of sun everyday. 

Prepare your planting site right!  In heavy clay soil, dig a hole at least 2 feet deep and 2 feet wide for the best drainage. In light or sandy soil, a smaller hole about 18 inches wide and deep, will work. Amend your soil with organic material like compost or well-aged cow manure. Gently remove the Clematis rootball from its container and plant it in the hole so that the base of the plant is sunk in about 3” below the soil level. Be sure to support the plant so the stem does not break.

Clematis require regular fertilizing to perform their best. In spring, once the Clematis buds are about 2 inches long, start fertilizing. Feed them every 2-4 weeks, only when they are not blooming.  Do not fertilize while clematis are blooming.

Water your Clematis plants regularly.  Always water thoroughly and deeply during the hot summer months. Remember, if the soil under your Clematis is shaded it will not dry out as quickly as a sunny area. Don’t keep them too wet, especially in the winter when they’re dormant. 

Clematis need support to grow. Growing them on an arbor or up a trellis, onto other shrubs, on a fence, a wall or a light pole.  

CLEMATIS GROUPS

Clematis are divided into 3 groups, based on the pruning techniques that encourage blooming.  Your clematis will survive without pruning, but it may not grow as vigorously or offer the best yield of colorful blooms without it.  Please be sure to NEVER prune clematis in the fall.

Group 1 (A)

- Flower is less than 2 inches across but offers a high yield.

- Blooms early spring on old wood.

- Prune after the main flowering has finished.  Don’t prune too early - you may cut off buds.

- Cut out damaged wood when you spot it.

- After the vines bloom, prune the stem tips to keep the vine in bounds with its support if desired.

- Thin spots can be addressed now by pruning a few side branches near the thin area and re-

directing new growth to fill in holes.

Group 2 (B)

- Large spring double flowers and re-bloomers.

- Flowers open in spring on old wood.

- Most grow 10-12 feet tall and make excellent covers for arbors, fences and trellises.

- As the plant emerges in spring, remove any stems that have died back.

- In late summer, the new wood produces smaller flowers.

Group 3 C)

- Easiest to prune.

- Blooms in spring, summer or fall depending on variety. 

- Great for growing on trellises.

- Large variety of height, color and flower size.

- Can be used as a ground cover.