Clematis Vine Growing Tips & Care

Easy clematis vine growing tips & care advice. Grow a clematis plant along a fence, on a plant trells or around a light post. The clematis flower comes in an amazing array of bright colors!

One of the confusing things about the show-stopping perennial clematis vine, and in my opinion there are a few, is the way the word is pronounced. KLEM-ah-tis is the Martha Stewart preferred pronunciation with the accent on the first syllable. kle-MAT-is, with the accent on the second syllable, is the way we say it here in Ohio. No matter how you happen to pronounce it, the clematis plant is a dependable and hardy perennial.

Clematis Plant Varieties

I actually have 2 plants of my own. One is in the front yard around my light post (pictured above) and the other is in the backyard growing on my neighbor’s fence (pictured below.) The purple variety on the fence is called ‘Viola.’ I also enjoy my neighbor’s sweet autumn variety which she throws over the fence so it cascades over on my side.

See: Sweet Autumn Fall Blooming Beauty

So I mentioned confusing things. I planted the variety ‘Kakio’ (the pink one) around my light post in spring of 2010. That following winter was horrible and in the spring of 2011 I was sure the clematis plant was dead. Then all of a sudden, almost overnight, green started popping out on the brown, brittle vines. The buds start to appear after the leaves. I would have never thought something so lovely could come from a what looked like a pile of sticks!

The Clematis Flower

Every spring since then, except one which I’ll explain below, the loveliest pink blooms appear in May and it is truly one of the prettiest things I have ever seen. Each flower has 8 pointed petals. The furry little center stays even after the petals have fallen. I have to say that of everything I have ever planted, this one is my favorite. Possibly because it actually blooms. (I have issues with things blooming as most of you know.)

Clematis flower facts:

Although the roots like to be cool, the vines needs at least six hours of sun per day to fully bloom. Mulch around the base of the plant and water weekly for the first year. After that, the plant should thrive and bloom.
Sometimes referred to as the “Queen of Vines,” clematis can grow high and wide with masses of huge, colorful blooms.

Other interesting clematis flower varieties:

‘Diana’s Delight’
‘Carnaby’
‘Josephine’
‘Franziska Maria’

Pruning Clematis Vine

Now about pruning, which is another confusing thing. Two years ago I made a mistake and cut the pink plant back in the fall. The next spring, which was in 2014, I had abundant leaves but just a few blooms. Clearly I pruned at the wrong time. The key to proper clematis pruning is knowing when your plant blooms.

For much more information on this subject, click here: Garden Pruning Guide.

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If you have never tried growing clematis, I highly recommend it. It won’t do much the first season that it’s planted but after that, with very little maintenance, you will be rewarded with blooms that will take your breath away. I just wish they lasted all summer!

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