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Clematis
Elevate Your Garden: Spectacular Blooms & Vertical Beauty
- Spectacular & Unforgettable Flowers: Prepare to be amazed by the breathtaking beauty of Clematis blooms! Known as the "Queen of Climbers," Clematis produces an incredible array of stunning flowers, ranging from delicate bells to large, star-shaped blossoms in a rainbow of colors, adding unparalleled beauty and drama to any garden.
- Vertical Interest & Space Saving: Elevate your garden to new heights! Clematis vines are perfect for adding vertical interest to any landscape. They climb effortlessly up trellises, arbors, fences, walls, and even through shrubs and trees, maximizing space and creating stunning vertical displays.
- Long Blooming Season & Variety of Bloom Times: Enjoy extended color and blooms throughout the growing season. With careful selection, you can choose Clematis varieties that bloom in spring, summer, and even fall, ensuring a continuous display of flowers in your garden for months.
- Wide Range of Flower Colors & Forms: Find the perfect Clematis to match your style! From classic blues and purples to vibrant pinks, reds, whites, yellows, and even bi-colors, Clematis offers an astonishing variety of flower colors and forms – single, double, star-shaped, bell-shaped, and more – to suit any garden palette and design.
- Attracts Hummingbirds & Butterflies: Bring pollinators and wildlife to your garden! Clematis flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies, adding life, movement, and ecological value to your landscape.
- Versatile Garden Uses: Clematis can be used in countless ways to enhance your garden. Train them on trellises, pergolas, arbors, obelisks, fences, walls, mailboxes, or let them scramble through shrubs, trees, or even use shorter varieties in containers or as groundcovers.
- Deer Resistant (Generally): Protect your garden from deer browsing! Clematis is generally considered deer-resistant, making it a valuable choice for gardens where deer are a concern.
- Hardy & Reliable Perennial: A long-term investment in your garden's beauty. Clematis is a hardy perennial that will return reliably year after year, growing more beautiful and impressive with each season.
- Light: "Feet in the Shade, Head in the Sun": Clematis needs at least 6 hours of sun per day for best flowering (ideally morning sun and some afternoon shade in hot climates is perfect, but full sun is generally preferred). However, their roots need to be kept cool and shaded. This is a critical principle for Clematis success.
- Soil: Prefers moist, well-drained, fertile soil. Clematis thrives in humus-rich soil. Amend heavy clay or sandy soils generously with compost, well-rotted manure, or other organic matter to improve drainage, moisture retention, and fertility. Slightly acidic to neutral soil pH is preferred. Excellent drainage is crucial to prevent root rot.
- Planting Time: Spring or fall are the ideal times to plant Clematis. Spring planting allows for a full growing season to establish before winter. Fall planting provides cooler temperatures and moisture for root establishment. Avoid planting during the heat of summer or when the ground is frozen.
Planting Instructions - General (Container Plants or Established Plants):
- Choose Your Location & Support: Select a sunny location with well-drained soil and provide a sturdy support structure before planting (trellis, arbor, fence, etc.).
- Prepare the Planting Hole: Dig a hole that is twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep.
- Amend the Soil (Crucial): Generously amend the backfill soil with compost, well-rotted manure, or other organic matter. Clematis are heavy feeders and benefit from rich soil.
- "Cool Roots" Strategy (Essential): Prior to planting, and ongoing, ensure the roots are kept cool and shaded. This can be achieved by:
- Planting Deeper: Plant Clematis slightly deeper than they were in their container. For container plants, plant so that the top of the root ball is about 2-4 inches below the soil surface. For bare root plants, see bare root instructions below.
- Mulching: Apply a generous layer of organic mulch (such as shredded bark, wood chips, or compost) around the base of the plant, keeping it away from the stems.
- Companion Planting: Plant low-growing groundcovers or shallow-rooted perennials around the base of the Clematis to shade the roots.
- Remove from Container: Gently remove the Clematis from its container, loosening any circling roots if present.
- Planting Depth: Place the root ball in the center of the hole, ensuring the top of the root ball is 2-4 inches below the surrounding soil surface (as mentioned above). Angle the plant towards its support.
- Backfill and Firm: Backfill the hole with the prepared soil mixture, gently firming around the base of the plant.
- Water Thoroughly: Water deeply after planting to settle the soil and provide initial moisture.
- Mulch (Generously): Apply a generous layer of mulch as described above, extending out around the base to shade the root zone.
- Attach to Support: Gently tie the Clematis stems to the support structure using soft plant ties or twine.
Planting Instructions - Bare Root Clematis:
- Hydrate Bare Roots: Upon arrival, if you are not planting immediately, keep bare roots cool and moist, wrapped in damp newspaper or peat moss. Before planting, soak the bare roots in a bucket of lukewarm water for 4-6 hours (or even overnight) to fully rehydrate them.
- Choose Location & Support & Prepare Soil: As above for general planting, ensuring you have a support structure in place. Prepare the soil with amendments.
- Dig the Planting Hole: Dig a hole wider and deeper than you would for a container plant to easily accommodate the spread bare roots and to allow for deeper planting. Create a small mound of soil in the center of the hole.
- Position Bare Roots & Planting Depth (Crucial for Bare Root): Place the bare root plant on top of the soil mound, spreading the roots out and down around the mound. Plant bare root Clematis deeply! Ensure the crown (where the roots meet the stem and buds) is positioned at least 4-6 inches below the soil surface. This deep planting encourages strong root development and helps protect against Clematis wilt.
- Backfill and Firm: Carefully backfill the hole with soil, working it around the roots. Gently firm the soil around the plant.
- Water Thoroughly: Water deeply after planting to settle the soil and provide essential moisture.
- Mulch (Especially Important for Bare Root): Apply a generous layer of mulch as mentioned above, especially important for bare root plants in their first year to help retain moisture, keep roots cool, and protect them during establishment.
- Attach to Support: Gently tie the Clematis stems to the support structure using soft plant ties or twine.
Ongoing Care:
- Watering:
- Establishment (First Year): Water regularly and deeply during the first growing season, especially during dry spells, to help establish a strong root system. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
- Established Plants: Once established, Clematis prefers consistently moist soil, especially during bloom time and hot weather. Water deeply and regularly, especially during dry periods. Avoid allowing the soil to dry out completely but also avoid constantly soggy conditions. Deep watering is best, rather than frequent shallow watering.
- Fertilizing: Clematis are heavy feeders and benefit from regular fertilization.
- Spring Feeding: In early spring, as new growth emerges, apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer or top-dress with compost or well-rotted manure.
- Bloom Feeding (Optional): You can give a light feeding of liquid fertilizer formulated for flowering plants a couple of times during the blooming season to encourage abundant blooms. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, which promote leafy growth at the expense of flowers.
- Pruning (Crucial for Clematis Blooms & Shape): Pruning is essential for Clematis and varies depending on the variety and bloom time. It is important to know your Clematis Pruning Group. Generally, Clematis are categorized into three pruning groups (Group 1, 2, and 3/Group C). When you purchase your Clematis, identify its Pruning Group, and follow the appropriate instructions below. If you are unsure, research the specific variety or cultivar.
- Pruning Group 1 (Early Spring Bloomers - Bloom on Old Wood): These Clematis bloom on growth from the previous season. Prune very lightly immediately after flowering, removing dead or weak stems and lightly shaping if needed. Avoid heavy pruning as you will remove next year's flower buds. Examples: Clematis armandii, Clematis montana, Clematis alpina.
- Pruning Group 2 (Large-Flowered, Spring & Rebloomers - Bloom on Old and New Wood): These Clematis produce a flush of large flowers in late spring/early summer on old wood (growth from last season), and often rebloom later in the season on new wood (current season's growth). Light Pruning in Late Winter/Early Spring: In late winter or early spring (just as buds begin to swell), remove dead or weak stems and lightly prune back remaining stems to just above a set of healthy buds. Deadheading Encouraged: Deadhead spent flowers after the first flush of blooms to encourage reblooming.
- Pruning Group 3 (Late Summer/Fall Bloomers - Bloom on New Wood): These Clematis bloom profusely on new wood (current season's growth) in late summer or fall. Hard Pruning in Late Winter/Early Spring: In late winter or early spring (before new growth begins), prune these Clematis back hard to about 12-18 inches from the ground, cutting just above a set of strong buds. Hard pruning encourages vigorous new growth and abundant late-season flowering. Examples: Clematis viticella, Clematis terniflora, Clematis jackmanii.
- Support & Training: Provide sturdy support (trellis, arbor, fence, etc.) for your Clematis to climb. Gently train the stems to the support as they grow, tying them loosely with soft plant ties or twine.
- Overwintering: Clematis is generally hardy in USDA zones 4-9 (check specific zone hardiness for your variety). Most Clematis are quite cold-hardy and generally do not require winter protection in most regions within their hardiness range. Mulching around the base in late fall can provide extra insulation in colder zones, especially for newly planted Clematis in their first winter.
- Clematis Wilt: Clematis wilt is a fungal disease that can cause sudden wilting and dieback of stems and foliage, particularly in large-flowered Clematis. Deep planting is a key preventative measure for Clematis wilt. Other preventative measures include ensuring good drainage, good air circulation, avoiding overcrowding, and proper watering (avoiding both drought and overwatering). If wilt occurs, prune out affected stems promptly, cutting back to healthy growth below the wilted area, and dispose of infected material (do not compost).
Enjoying Your Clematis:
- Vertical Garden Focal Point: Use Clematis to create stunning vertical focal points in your garden, adorning trellises, arbors, pergolas, fences, and walls.
- Long Season of Bloom: Revel in the extended beauty of Clematis blooms throughout the growing season, enjoying different varieties for spring, summer, and fall color.
- Cut Flowers (Some Varieties): Some Clematis varieties, particularly large-flowered types, make beautiful and dramatic cut flowers.
- Attract Wildlife: Enjoy the hummingbirds and butterflies that are drawn to your Clematis blooms.
- Elevate Your Landscape: Appreciate the vertical elegance and flower power that Clematis brings to your garden, adding sophistication and charm to your outdoor spaces.
Pro-Tip: "Cool Roots, Warm Top" is the mantra for Clematis! Always ensure their roots are shaded and cool with deep planting, mulching, or companion plants, while allowing the vines to bask in the sun for abundant blooms. And importantly, know your Clematis Pruning Group and prune accordingly each year to maximize flowering and maintain plant health and shape!
By following these guidelines, you can successfully plant and enjoy the magnificent beauty of Clematis in your garden for many years to come, whether you choose container plants or bare root options!
Clematis (klem-at-iss) Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae). Perennial woody climbers, many are prized for their fine foliage and showy flowers. The flowers do not have petals, but have petal-like sepals, often very large and striking. Clematis have opposite, usually compound leaves and attractive, feathery seed pods. The plants are useful for growing on stone walls, fences or trees; for training as porch vines on trellises; or for tying on posts.
They grow best in a light, moist soil that has been enriched with leafmold and sweetened with lime. Best growth is in full sun, with roots kept cool by shading or mulching.
Plant bare root Clematis deep so the crown and one set of nodes is approximately one inch below the soil surface, leaving at least one set of nodes above the soil surface. 
• When potting up, insert either a stake or trellis in the pot. Since young shoots can be damaged very easily, it is best to insert your support system early.
• Begin growing cool (40-45°F) so the roots can start growing before the foliage begins to make demands on the root system. Once the foliage reaches 4-5 inches tall, the roots should be established enough to the increase the temperature to 55°F to finish.
• Water thoroughly, allowing plants to dry between waterings. To help prevent foliar diseases, water plants early in the day to allow the foliage to dry before nightfall.
• If a fuller plant is desired, pinch back to three sets of leaves. Only one pinch should be necessary. Please note this may delay flowering.