Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.

Happy Jack ® Purple Clematis . Photo by : Proven Winners .

Once you ’ve go steady a bloom clematis in full bloom , you ’ll understand why this easy - care repeated vine has been nickname the Queen of Climbers . The vine bloom abundantly in an array of colors , figure , and sizes , followed by attractive ejaculate heads .

Clematiscan produce up to cover post , pergolas , arbors and fencing , clamber across the earth or cloak graciously from a container ; grow up to 8 feet in a time of year . raw plants may take a few years to put on their full show .

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On this page : Basics|Types|Planting|Care and Maintenance|Pictures|Design Ideas|Cutting & Arranging

CLEMATIS BASICS

Zones:

Most varieties are suitable for zones 4 - 9 ; with a few mixed bag audacious to zone 3 and others heat kind to zone 10 .

Height/Spread:

Varieties from low - growing , trailing shrub to climbers that can reach 30 to 50 foot .

Exposure:

Clematis need 5 to 6 hours of sun day by day , but do appreciate some sluttish wraith in spicy clime . undue sunlight can make petal to blow over on larger - flowered varieties .

Bloom time:

There are early on - blooming miscellanea ( March to June ) , mid - season bloomer ( April to June ) and belated bloomers ( July to first frost ) .

Color:

form available in shades of downhearted , pinkish , mystifying purpleness , crimson , and white .

Flower shape and size:

The bloom issue forth in many efflorescence variant include single , twofold , semi - double , ace - shaped , open bell - shaped , bell - shaped , tulip regulate , and tubular . Most are 3 column inch or less , but some can be up to 8 in across .

Toxicity:

The ASPCA lists clematis as being toxic to dogs , cats and horse . It is noted , however , that it has a very bitter taste and may keep animals from take in big amounts .

Deer resistance:

Although listed as cervid resistant ; no flora is completely deer substantiation , as deer have been fuck to eat just about anything if hungry enough .

TYPES OF CLEMATIS

Varieties can be broken down into 3 groups based on when their bloom buds are take form .

' Stand by Me ' bush clematis . pic : Proven Winners .

ARE THERE ANY CLEMATIS THAT AREN’T VINES?

' Stand by Me ' is an herbaceous , non - vining bush clematis that dies back to the reason at the end of the season . ' Stand by Me ' blooms blue , pink , or lavender bell - shaped flowers from late fountain until mid - summertime and grows to 3 base tall and full . rise in full sun to abstemious tone . Benefits from staking or bread and butter from surrounding plants .

zone 3 - 7 .

Buy from Proven Winners .

Happy Jack Clematis, Clematis Hybrid, Purple Flower, Flowering Vine
“Dream Team’s” Portland Garden
Proven Winners
Sycamore, IL

HOW TO PLANT CLEMATIS

Unlike planting practices for most plants , clematis should be planted deeper than in their original tummy . pic by : Avalon / Alamy Stock Photo .

When to plant:

works in early spring just as they are go into their increment phase or later in the capitulation . Although nurseries may kick upstairs and sell them mid - to - tardy springtime when in blush , this is n’t inevitably the best clip to plant as there ’s not enough clip to establish their ancestor before summertime heat arrives .

Where to plant:

Consider the fledged size of the plant life and its growth habit to allow enough space , particularly for the dissolute growers . Plant where the leave will get sun , but the rootage and base of the works are shaded ; the north side of a smaller bush is idealistic .

How to plant:

Plant clematis profoundly than most plant life , with the crown approximately 3 to 5 inches below the territory product line . This will facilitate advance stems to emerge from dormant buds , making for a strong multi - caulescent base . Water soundly after planting .

Planting Tips:

CLEMATIS CARE

Pruning:

The key to pruning clematis right is cognise what case you have . If you ’re unsure , the best plan is to wait and see when it starts blooming , as this will dictate how and when it should be pruned . If in doubtfulness , there are a few dewy-eyed prescript you could precipitate back on : Do n’t prune before flowering , do n’t remove any stem with developing bud , and never prune in the downfall as this may actuate young growth that will be susceptible to wintertime damage .

For all 3 groups , a intemperately pruning in the first 2 years can facilitate boost a more bush - like , multi - stemmed industrial plant .

When deadheading , 12 to 18 inch of stalk can be cut back . This will help regenerate your vine and keep it count prissy and healthy .

Happy Jack Clematis, Clematis Hybrid, Purple Flower, Flowering Vine
“Dream Team’s” Portland Garden
Proven Winners
Sycamore, IL

Soil:

Clematis prefer slenderly alkaline soil , but will tolerate a stove of pH. It is more significant that the soil be rich and well - amend with constitutive stuff . Clematis theme are finespun , fussy , and postulate a cooler environment along with moist , but well - drained , soil . Use a good layer of mulch or surround with low - growing plants to provide shade for the roots while allow Sunday for the plant above priming .

Fertilizer:

They are heavy feeder . Apply a10 - 10 - 10 fertilizeronce a calendar month during the growing season and continue until just before inflorescence . fecundate during flowering may have a negative core and convey blossom to a halt untimely .

Watering:

Under normal conditions , they necessitate about an inch of weewee weekly once established . In warmer climates or during extreme heat , water deep and more frequently ; this will also help to keep the rootage nerveless .

Support:

Clematis attach themselves to host plants or structures with their leafage stalks but necessitate help to rise vertically . Secure stem to a musical accompaniment or trellis to encourage upward emergence .

Diseases and Pests:

Scale , whiteflies , earwig andaphidscan be a problem . rough-cut diseases are clematis wilt , powdery mildew , rust fungus , fungal spots and stem canker .

CLEMATIS VARIETIES

Photo by : Proven Winners .

Happy Jack ® Purple — Buy from Proven WinnersGroup 2

Zones:5 - 9

Happy Jack Clematis, Clematis Hybrid, Purple Flower, Flowering Vine
“Dream Team’s” Portland Garden
Proven Winners
Sycamore, IL

Height / Spread:6 to 8 feet tall , 3 to 4 feet wide

Exposure : Full Sunday to part tint

Bloom Time : Mid - summer to fall

Happy Jack Clematis, Clematis Hybrid, Purple Flower, Flowering Vine
“Dream Team’s” Portland Garden
Proven Winners
Sycamore, IL

colour : mysterious purple flowers

An easy - to - grow variation of the popular Clematis ' Jackmanii ' with 3- to 5 - column inch thick regal flowers .

' Sweet Summer Love'—Buy from Proven WinnersGroup 3

Zones:4 - 9

Height / Spread:10 to 15 feet magniloquent , 6 to 10 feet all-embracing

Bloom Time : Spring & summertime

colouring : Cranberry - majestic bloom

Fragrant flowers bloom from previous spring through summertime . Establishes itself in the first year and explode with outgrowth the second .

' Diamond Ball'—Buy from Proven WinnersGroup 2

Height / Spread:6 base magniloquent , 3 foot extensive

Bloom Time : June through August

Color : clean - drear flower

unparalleled water ice - risque peak bloom betimes to June 21 . Easy to care for , vigorous , and disease tolerant .

Jolly Good ™ —Buy from Proven WinnersGroup 3

Height / Spread:7 feet tall , 3 feet wide

Bloom Time : Summer

colouring : easy majestic heyday

scant purplish blossom with magenta tones blossom all summertime . A vigorous agriculturist , yet remains compact — arrant for trellises .

Sparky ™ purpleness — steal from Proven WinnersGroup 1

Zones:3 - 8

Height / Spread:6 to 8 infantry tall and wide

photo : Partial sun to full sun

Bloom Time : Mid spring to early summertime

Color : Violet purple heyday ( also available in pinkish & blue )

singular flower shape , other foul-up , ask no pruning

picture by : Garden World Images Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo .

C. armandii‘Apple Blossom’Group 1

Zones:7 - 9

Height / Spread : Vines can reach 20 to 25 foot long

Exposure : Partial shade to full sun

Bloom Time : Early to mid - spring

Color : pallid pink to lily-white flowers , deeply pink bud

evergreen plant foliation , vanilla scented flowers , quick grower

Clematis‘Cezanne’Group 2

Height / Spread:3 to 4 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide

Bloom Time : Spring

colouring material : dingy flower

Compact , splendid selection for pocket-sized spaces or containers

exposure by : High Mountain / Shutterstock .

Clematis terniflora(syn . C. paniculata)Group 3

Height / Spread:15 to 30 feet tall and wide

Bloom Time : Late summertime to fall

Color : Creamy ashen flowers

Commonly called sweet autumn clematis ; prone to self - seeding and spreading

Photo by : John Richmond / Alamy Stock Photo .

Clematis‘Nelly Moser’Group 2

Zones:4 - 8

Height / Spread:6 to 10 feet grandiloquent and all-embracing

Color : Pale pinkish flowers with darker pink stripy petal

gravid bloom , 6 - 8 inches across

Photo by : Age Fotostock / Alamy Stock Photo .

Clematis virginianaGroup 3

Height / Spread:12 to 20 foundation tall and 3 to 6 feet wide

vulnerability : fond shade to full sun , although very shade liberal

Color : White flowers

Can open aggressively by self - seeding and suckering , native to eastern North America

pic by : Anne Gilbert / Alamy Stock Photo .

Clematis florida‘Sieboldii’Group 2

Zones:6 - 9

Height / Spread:6 to 8 feet tall and 3 to 6 infantry wide

Bloom Time : natural spring to fall

Color : White with purplish center bloom

refined bi - colored clematis , well - suited for great containers

LANDSCAPE DESIGN IDEAS

With so many mixed bag of clematis , the design possibilities are closely endless .

CUTTING & ARRANGING CLEMATIS

Whether used alone or in a gang with other outflow or summer blooms , clematis make outstanding cut bloom . They can last up to 2 hebdomad from bud to fully opened , with forked - flower varieties often lasting longer than singles . Here are some tips to make the most of your cut clematis :