Birthday
HydrangeasClematis is one of the most striking garden climbers: with the right care a plant covers itself with hundreds of flowers from white to deep purple. Here is where and how to plant clematis, how to care for it and, most importantly, how to prune the different clematis groups so they flower every year.
Plants for your garden and home are in our potted plants section.
About the plant
Clematis belongs to the buttercup family, and the genus has more than 300 species. They range from small-flowered species with masses of little blooms to large-flowered cultivars with flowers up to 15–20 cm across. Most garden clematis overwinter well in Ukraine.
Planting
- Position — "head in the sun, feet in the shade": the shoots need sun but the roots must not overheat. Shade the base with low plants or mulch.
- Timing — spring or early autumn.
- Depth — plant large-flowered clematis 5–10 cm deeper than they grew in the container: the plant forms more shoots and copes better with setbacks.
- Support — a trellis, arch or mesh for the climber to scramble up.
Pruning: three groups
- Group 1 — clematis that flower in spring on last year's shoots (such as C. alpina and C. montana). Prune lightly, and only after flowering.
- Group 2 — most large-flowered cultivars, which bloom in spring on old wood and in summer on new growth. Shorten the shoots in autumn or early spring, removing weak and dead ones.
- Group 3 — clematis that flower in summer on the current year's shoots (such as C. viticella and the Jackmanii types). Cut them back hard in early spring to 20–30 cm above the ground.
The pruning group is usually shown on the plant label — keep it.
Care
- Watering — regular and generous, especially in hot weather; the water should reach the roots rather than sit on the surface.
- Feeding — a general fertiliser in spring and a potassium- and phosphorus-rich feed when buds form.
- Mulch keeps the roots cool and holds moisture.
- Tying in — guide young shoots towards the support.
Common problems
- Clematis wilt — a fungal disease: cut affected shoots back to healthy tissue. Deep planting helps the plant recover.
- No flowers — often due to wrong pruning or too little sun.
- The sap can irritate the skin — wear gloves.
Other climbers for the garden are covered in "Climbing plants for the garden".
FAQ
How do I find out a clematis's pruning group?
It is on the variety label; essentially it depends on when it flowers — in spring on old wood, twice a season, or in summer on new growth.
Why isn't my clematis flowering?
Usually because of wrong pruning or not enough sun.
Does clematis need winter protection?
Most varieties overwinter without cover; young plants and large-flowered cultivars benefit from mulch around the base.
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Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
