If you’re looking for a plant that’s going to cover your trellis, walls, fence, lattice, or even your shed.
Clematis is the answer. Hands down.
Clematis, also known as the “Queen of Vines,” is a vining plant that loves to climb. It’s one of the plants people use to make those gorgeous displays of arching flowers over their entryway.
This plant can produce dozens of flowers, each ranging up to 5 inches in diameter!
Plus, it’s beginner friendly.
So if you’re not a green thumb, it doesn’t matter. Like most vine plants, it’ll need TLC. But nothing too crazy.
It just takes patience and some dedication to the gardening hobby.
Let’s learn how to care and care for clematis.
Last updated: 6/23/22.
Guide Contents
Quick care guide: Clematis
| Plant type | Perennial evergreen vine plant |
| Origin | China, Japan |
| Scientific name | Clematis; L. |
| Other names | Traveler's Joy, Old-Man's-Beard, Virgin's Bower, Vine Bower, Leatherflower, Vase Vine, Queen of Vines |
| Soil type | Fertile, loamy, well-draining, nutrient-dense, organic |
| Soil pH | 6.5-7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral) |
| Sunlight requirement | Full sun, at least 6 hours per day |
| Bloom season | Spring, summer |
| Colors | Green, lime green, yellow, purple, blue, pink, white, red, hybrids. |
| Max height | 30 feet |
| Max width | 20 feet (if not grown vertically) |
| Low temperature tolerance | -40F |
| High temperature tolerance | 90F |
| Ideal temperature range | 65F-85F |
| Humidity | Moderate (50% or higher) |
| Watering requirements | 1-2 gallons of water per week, adjust as needed |
| Fertilizer requirements | Moderate, use max dosage in spring/summer, supplement with high potash |
| Plant food NPK | 10-10-10 or 4-8-4 |
| Days until germination | 2-3 years |
| Days until harvest | Non-harvestable |
| Bloom time | 30-45 days, blooms 2-3 times per season |
| Speed of growth | Moderate |
| Hardiness zones | USDA hardiness zones 4-10 |
| Plant depth | 0.25-0.50 inches for seeds, plant 2-3 times the depth of the root ball. Deciduous: The crown should be a few inches below the soil line Evergreen: Plant root ball crown the same depth as the soil line |
| Plant spacing | 36 inches |
| Plant with | Wisteria Jasmine Morning glories Short shrubs for shading the roots Roses Shrubby vines Lettuce Chives Basil Other edibles that prefer high potash environments |
| Don't plant with | Competing vine plants |
| Propagation method | Cuttings, pre-grown |
| Common pests | Snails, beetles, slugs, whiteflies, scale, aphids, caterpillars, thrips, capsid bugs, earwigs, and leaf miners |
| Common diseases | Powdery mildew, slime flux, wilt |
| Indoor plant | No |
| Outdoor plant | Yes |
| Grown in container | Yes |
| Flowering plant | Yes |
| Beginner friendly | Yes |
| Care level | Moderate (easy for beginners) |
| Best uses | Trellises, walls, sheds, archways, decor, bordering, pathing, lattices, |
What’s clematis?
Clematis is a popular flowering plant that’s known for its ability to climb.
It’s commonly found climbing on fences, trellises, or even lattices. These plants are sure to capture the attention of people walking by.
They grow thick, dense foliage with large, flowering petals.
Clematis can be used as a decorative piece or even as a privacy plant to block off vision. They’ve only recently become widely popular in the US because they weren’t available in the US.
You could only select from a few cultivars, but they’ve become quite the craze with dozens of different strains nowadays. You can go to your local nursery and pick up one for a reasonable price.
Seeds are also plentiful- both in the garden center or online. But you may not want to hit that “order” button just yet!
Is clematis perennial or annual?
Clematis is a perennial plant that will grow year after year, provided that you supply it with the right TLC. It’s a slow-growing, flowering climber.
They’re well paired with roses or complementary plants.
There are many different shapes, colors, sizes, and even heights that you can choose from. Clematis also attracts birds, bees, and insects because of its dense foliage.
Some types are evergreen, others are deciduous.
When do they flower?
This plant varies in flowering time, but usually ranges from early spring to late fall.
ecause of their wide abundance in diversity, they can be used for a plethora of settings including containers, screens, borders, fences, or trellises.
If you want to add some color to your garden, clematis is an excellent candidate!
What do they look like?
Clematis comes in many different colors. The standard flower is a huge, large blossom with up to 7 petals that measures up to 6 inches in diameter.
The vines can grow up to 20 feet in length, which makes it a crawling, climbing plant. There are also clematis with double blossoms, small flowers, or even bell-shaped flowers. The vines are dark green with sharp leaves that match the color.
They complement the vines with sometimes lighter shades of lime.
But it’s the petals that complete the picture! These blossoms can be purple, lavender, white, red, or even yellow. There are lots of hybrids that have been introduced into the US by hobbyists over time.
So as you can see, there’s a clematis for every garden.
Whether you’re looking for a climbing plant with pretty flowers or something to offer plant cover for that ugly fence, clematis can do it.
There are both compact varieties and fuller ones that can span your garden. Do some research and find out which one is right for your situation and garden.
Is clematis easy to grow?
Clematis will take some patience to grow, but for the most part, they’re beginner-friendly. They do have some requirements that you need to follow if you want them to thrive.
Clematis also takes multiple years before it begins to flower. It starts off slowly producing a few buds, then it will flower vigorously.
This is why people buy a plant from the nursery that’s a few years old- it gives them a headstart on the flowering with reduced waiting time. But it comes at a premium.
They are quite picky about where you put their roots down. This will require your critical thinking skills. Once planted, it’s very difficult to move it around once it starts climbing. Once established, it’ll be worth your time.
Clematis varieties
There are so many types of clematis that it’s an article of itself.
To keep it simple, here are some of the most popular clematis cultivars separated by group for your reference:
Pruning Group 1:
- Clematis montana
- Clematis alpina
- Clematis macropetala
- Clematis Armandii
- Clematis alpina AGM
- Pamela Jackman
- Avalanche
- White Abundance
- Blue Bird
- Ruby
- Rosy O’ Rgrady
- Freckles
- White Columbine
- Wisley Cream
- Constance
- Frances Rivis
- Markham’s Pink
- C. baearica
- C. cirrhosa
Pruning Group 2:
- Bees Jubilee
- Nelly Moser
- Vyvyan Pennell
- Perle D’Azur
- Edith
- Burma Star
- Rebecca
- Royal Velvet
- WIlliam Kennett
- Duchess of Edinburgh
- Jackmanii Alba
- Jackmanii Rubra
- Beauty of Worcester
- Belle of Woking
- Babara Jackman
- Snow Queen
- The President
Pruning Group 3:
- Madame Julia Correvon
- Clematis terniflora
- Ernest Markham
- Clematis Jackmanii
- Clematis viticella
- Clematis texensis
- Prince Charles
- Viticella
- Clematis tangutica
- Hagley Hybrid
- Rubromarginata
- Ville de Lyon
- Sir Trevor Lawrence
- Lady Betty Balfour
- Polish Spirit
- Royal Velours
- Duchess of Albany
- Alionushka
- Purpurea Plena Elegans
Over 300 types of clematis exist. So there’s something for everyone. Tiny garden. Big gardens. Compact, tall, or short. Big or small flowers. You can even get different flower colors.
How to propagate clematis
This section covers the steps to propagate clematis from seed or if you bought one from the garden center. Remember that it takes time for it to start flowering, so you may want to start with a pre-grown plant if you’re impatient (like me).
So that’s why I’ll focus on the two most practical methods- starting from cuttings or just buying one. Starting from seed will take up to 3 years before you even complete germination. So if anything, it’s not for those that want to see results!
Should you start from seed?
If you’re starting from seed, you’re in it for the long haul.
Clematis germination can take upwards of 36 months to fully sprout, so it may not be worth the time you spend before you see any results. Propagate from stem cuttings or just buy one from the local garden center.
This video shows you the process from seed:
From cuttings
Cuttings should be taken from clematis that has been well established. Look for vines that have yet to flower with no buds. Use a sharp pair of sterilized pruners.
Take cuttings in the spring using softwood stems. If spring has already passed, you can still take cuttings in the summer using regular ripe wood.
The vines should be toughened up before you cut. If you cut it when it’s too young, it may not handle the plant shock from being cut off.
That’s why you should let it grow for a few weeks before you make your cuts. Don’t take cuttings from growing ends. They’re much too fragile for this.
Find a section with a long, hardy vine with several sets of foliage so you can propagate multiple plants from the same branch.
Make the cut right above a leg joint. This is usually around 1 inch above or so, but it depends on the type of clematis you’re growing. Cut the section cleanly right above the leaf joints right above the set of leaves.
Continue cutting sections until you reach the end of the stem. Depending on the overall length of your system, you can create many cuttings and turn them into plants of their own.
Each section should be about 3 inches with one set of leaves at the top of it.
Next, get a high-quality rooting gel or powder. Dip the cut end into the rooting hormone as directed. This helps it take root but is optional if you don’t have any.
However, I highly recommend it because clematis is finicky enough.
Prepare a container with a high-quality, nutrient-dense soil mixture.
Consider putting in some compost or high potash ingredients. Fill it with soil. Then insert the stems into it.
Firm around the stems to hold them in place. You can fit 3 stems in a single pot. Space them out evenly.
Water it well. Then make sure it drains. Cover it with a humidity dome or plant cover to help retain the humidity.
Place the container in bright, dappled light. Keep it moist by watering once or twice per week. You should expect roots to form in about 6-8 weeks. You can test this by gently tugging on it.
If it doesn’t give, then it’s rooted! Congrats. Remove the dome and let it get used to the outside by hardening it off.
When the plant starts to grow, cut the stems back to 10 inches to encourage branching.
At this point, the roots should be established and the plant can be moved outside to your garden.
Where to plant
Clematis appreciates full sun locations, but will also bloom in partial shade.
To encourage maximum flower production, you’ll want to choose somewhere that receives plenty of sunlight for at least 6 hours per day.
Morning sunlight will reduce the likelihood of scorching or burning, which can happen if too much hot sun is provided. Depending on your USDA hardiness zone, you’ll want to choose a location accordingly.
If you have extremely hot summers, partial shade may be preferable. For temperate zones, full sun is ideal.
Other than sunlight, choose somewhere in your garden that has something for it to run up on. Clematis is notorious for being able to climb, so give it fencing, a trellis, or a lattice and let it go to town!
Less vigorous types can grow on a trellis, but rampant types prefer larger surfaces instead.
Think sheds, walls, or your garden fence. If you don’t provide something for it to climb, it’ll find one.
When to plant
The ideal time for planting clematis is in the late spring or the beginning of fall.
This is because you want to avoid the summer heat due to the watering requirements.
People generally don’t water it enough because they underestimate how much it can drink. So you can plant in either spring or fall, but not winter. If you plant it in the summer, give it extra water.
Planting
Prepare the soil with well-draining, nutrient-dense soil. The planting hole should be deep, about 2 times the size of the root. Add a bucket of compost to help supplement the nutrient profile. Mix well.
Soak the root ball in water for half an hour before planting. The hole you dig should be about 18 inches wide and deep to fully fit the root ball without damaging it.
Evergreen clematis varieties are planted with the crown at the soil line. Deciduous varieties should be slightly below the soil line by about 5 inches. Lean the plant. It should be held by supporters.
Planting the crown under the soil line will encourage new stems to grow from under the soil line and provide winter predictions.
Place the root ball so that the top of it is level with the surface of the soil line. Cut off the leaves on the bottom of it. Fill with soil and firmly pat it down so it’s stable in place. If growing in a pot, place it 2-3 inches below the soil line for large flower types.
Water it thoroughly for the first day. Then water every 2 weeks for the first 90 days. This helps establish it for the summertime. Cover the soil with mulch to help insulate it. The roots should be kept cold. The leaves should be hot.
This will help prevent clematis wilt. If you don’t have much, you can use tiles, stones, or pebbles. Clematis requires one gallon of water per week but should be increased for hotter days.
Tie new clematis stems with soft plant twine. Be gentle. Don’t break stems.
The stems should be tied onto wooden supports so it doesn’t droop. The ties need to be soft because the stems are easy to rip or damage. Space each stem evenly so you can maximize coverage on the supports.
If planted in the spring or summer, you should pinch out the growing tips over the first season to help it get a fuller appearance.
It’ll strengthen it because it forces the plant to refocus its energy on growing stronger roots rather than flowers or vines.
Hardening off
You need to harden your clematis off before finally putting them into the garden.
If you don’t acclimate your plant before you put it outside, it may wither or suffer from the elements.
To harden it off, just put it outside for a few hours each day. That’s it!
Do this only when the roots are stronger. Younger plants may be damaged by the elements.
Moving to the garden
When finally moving your clematis to its permanent home, be very careful to not harm the roots.
The crown and vines that emerge also are fragile. Don’t use sharp tools or handle it roughly because it’s easy to break or snap something off.
Gently remove the plant from its original container by design from the outside towards the center of the plant.
You may water it to help loosen the soil. Tip the container and then dislodge it. Don’t pull on the leaves or vines- grab from the base and pull upwards to reduce damage.
Set it in its new home by gently setting it into the pre-dug hole. It’s much easier to have a helper during this step! Trust me.
Position the plant over the hole and then gently slide it into it. The hole should be slightly larger in diameter so it can fit snugly into it. The hole should be a bit deeper than the original container with a few inches on the diameter so it can be moved without rubbing on the edges.
The plant should easily fit into the new hole with its first set of true leaves just under the soil line.
Use your garden spade and fill the edges