Do you need easy and straightforward clematis vine growing tips & care advice? You are in the right place! Some aspects about growing a clematis plant are confusing, but I’ve broken it down into easy-to-understand sections. Get information about clematis flowers, trellis choices, and pruning.
Updated and revised: March 2021.
Clematis is, without a doubt, one of the prettiest flowering plants ever. There are a couple of confusing things about it though…but once you have them figured out, growing clematis is easy and rewarding. The first confusing thing about this show-stopping perennial 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, beautiful, 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 a trellis, attached to 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 tosses over the fence, so it cascades over on my side.
See: Sweet Autumn Fall Blooming Beauty
I planted the variety ‘Kakio’ (the pink one) around my light post in spring of 2010. That following winter was cold and snowy, and in the spring of 2011, I was sure the clematis plant was dead. (Remember, I was a clematis novice!) Then all of a sudden in the spring, almost overnight, green started popping out on the brown, brittle vines. The buds start to appear after the leaves. I would have never thought that those amazing pink blooms could come from what looked like a pile of sticks!
The Clematis Flower
Every spring since then, except once when I pruned at the wrong time, the loveliest pink blooms appear in May, and it is truly one of the prettiest sites 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.
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’
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Choosing the proper trellis:
Climbing plants have unique characteristics, and each variety attaches itself to a trellis differently. Clematis climbs and attaches using its leaf stems, much like a pea vine. The leaf stems are short, so make sure whatever they are attaching to is small in diameter. If you want to use a panel trellis with thicker climbing parts, just wrap and intertwine the vines around the trellis bars, and the leaf stems will naturally attach themselves.
Pruning Clematis Vine
do not prune!”
- If you have a mature clematis vine that blooms in the spring, like my pink plant around the light pole, that means it’s blooming on old wood. It’s safe to prune this variety soon after flowering, when the blooms have faded. This is the time to shape the plant, and remove any dead wood.
- Clematis that blooms in the summer or fall, like my purple plant in the backyard garden, blooms on new wood, and can be pruned when the plant is dormant. This dormant period begins in the fall, and continues until late winter or very early spring. If you have a summer or fall bloomer that has become unruly, it’s safe to cut it down almost to the ground at this time, before new growth begins. Cut back to just above a fresh, healthy bud, removing all dead wood.
- A good rule of thumb is to look out for small buds…if you see them, DO NOT PRUNE!
- Clematis vine that does not get an occasional proper pruning can get top-heavy with blooms.
- No matter when your clematis blooms, don’t be afraid to prune. It’s VERY hard to kill a clematis! The worst that will happen is that your plant will have no blooms (or very few) the next growing season. This has personally happened to me, and I lived through it!
I can attest to the hardiness of clematis from my own experience! I planted a clematis vine to grow along the awning posts of my patio around 1987. Several years later, we covered the patio with a raised deck, but the work was done before I could move the plant to another location. The next summer, it worked it’s way under the deck and over the rails where it continued to thrive until three years ago when we built a new , larger deck. I was able to move enough of the plant to a new location, but lo and behold, little clematis shoots still find their way through the deck boards every summer!
I agree wholeheartedly! Clematis is a beautiful plant. Thank you so much for the information. I have Princess Diana, is not performing where it is, too much shade. I will be moving it to a sunnier spot.
Thank you always💕
I have a Jackmani (sp?). I love it. I have tried to find another one but I think I will have to try to do a clipping and see if I can get it to root. Interesting article.
Hi Ann
I have grown them for years! I tried to grow a particular white variety(of course the name eludes me)but with no success. And as far as pruning I never get a chance. My dreaded rabbits eat them to the ground every winter but thankfully they come up every year! They are definetly worth growing.
Dear Ann,
Thanks once again for timely and informative information!
I have long admired clematis in other gardens, but have never had one in mine. Maybe this will be the year that I will go on that adventure! Yours is very lovely.
Ann I really enjoyed your post on Clematis. I’m a fellow Ohioan. I am about 30 miles north of Cincinnati.. I want to tell you about a clematis i have had for 30=40 years! Yes the same plant. It is the Betty Corning ! I LOVE it. I got it years ago from Wayside Gardens it is so different from regular blooms. It’s blooms are little bells. They are so beautiful and it has survived these cold frigid winters and heat and drought and comes back faithfully every year! Do check it out! Thank you also for the really pretty monthly phone wallpapers. I love them.
Elaine
Looks beautiful around your light pole.
I’m so glad you’ll be posting about gardening. Some of my favorite pins on Pinterest are from you.
Yea…. I have had the Klematis (lol) bug for years! They are one of the best & they don’t disappoint. Thanks for sharing your lovely post…Smiles