Queen of the Flowering Vines
Are you looking for a vining plant with breath taking flowers? Something that’s easy to grow and very forgiving? Sounds like you’re thinking about the Clematis Vine. Clematis vines have twining leaf stalks that act as tendrils. They wind around to almost any type of support. Clematis will not, however, cling to brick or to a bare wall; they must have a trellis of some type. Clematis are also attractive when they hang over rocks or grow up tree trunks. Clematis are not demanding plants but they do have a few special requirements. Treat them right and clematis will reward you with a wonderful show of color.
Clematis vines produce large, striking flowers in a wide range of colors. Try planting two or three different varieties together, to get even a more spectacular array of flowers. If you follow a few simple guidelines they will grow and bloom profusely.
Flowers
Most clematis varieties produce single flowers ranging in size from 1″ to 10″ in diameter. Some varieties produce double flowers, others produce double and single flowers. Most double flowering varieties will bloom double on the old wood, early in the spring. They will then bloom single on the current season’s growth, in the late-summer or fall. If pruned improperly, these varieties will only produce single flowers. Clematis blossoms will often change colors from when they start to bloom until the blossom fades, especially if the flowers are in full sun. The pastel colors hold their color best if they have some shade. Clematis make beautiful cut flowers. Blossoms picked as they are first opening can last up to ten days in a cool room, five or six days is more common. Floating blossoms in a bowl of water is another attractive way of displaying these beautiful flowers.
Location
Clematis vines love the sun, but their roots hate the heat. The roots need to be cool so they should be shaded, even though the plant stems and leaves will grow in full sun. Planting the roots in the shade, or planting clematis behind a rock or fence, or planting a small shrub in front of them, or planting shallow rooted groundcovers around them, will insure a cool root run for the clematis. Adding a layer of bark or mulch may also help.
Planting
Clematis roots prefer a cool, moist, loose, well-drained soil. Dig a rather large hole when you plant your clematis; about 18″ x 18″. Mix 20% to 30% Harvest Supreme Compost with the soil you remove from the hole, along with a quarter cup of Dr. Earth Starter Fertilizer. This fertilizer contains Mycorrhizae and other beneficial bacteria that really helps clematis root fast and flourish in your garden. Make sure the rootball is about one or two inches below the soil surface. Stake the vine when you first plant it, so the stem will not break off the root system. Stem breakage is the major problem when planting a new clematis vine.
Clematis roots can die from stem breakage. Water your clematis thoroughly when you first plant it. Water your clematis every day the first week. Make sure that you water it with a hose and not just let the sprinklers water it for you. After the first week, water your clematis a least once a week with a hose. Give it 2 or 3 gallons of water each time you water, not just a cup or two. Again don’t rely on sprinklers to water your clematis the first summer. As the clematis vines grow they may need to be tied or supported in several places. Be careful when handling clematis vine stems. The stems are brittle and are easily broken. Do not worry if a few stems die back when moved or tied. New growth will take their place.
Fertilizer
Clematis vines need a consistent supply of both water and fertilizer during the growing season. Fertilize monthly with 5-10-10, 16-16-8 Multipurpose Fertilizer, or 6-10-4 Flower Fer tilizer from early-May until mid-August. Do not fertilize after mid-August so the plants can slow down and settle in for winter. To keep the soil moist, cool, and loose, add plenty of compost such as Harvest Supreme Compost around your plants each summer or fall. This compost also helps protect the clematis vines during severe summer weather and cold winter conditions. Don’t worry if your plant dies to the ground during the winter; new shoots will appear from the roots when the warm weather returns. If your soil is alkaline spread a little sulfur around your plant each spring to help increase the acidity. Clematis do not like to stay wet constantly. Make sure the soil will drain after watering.
Pruning
Don’t prune newly planted clema tis vines very much the first few years. Clematis vines need a chance to root and become established. Once established, the pruning time and severity depends on the flowering time of your clematis variety. If you don’t prune older clematis vines, the stems may become tangled and unattractive. Also, if clematis are left unpruned, they will still flower very well, but overgrown clematis vines may not bloom equally over the entire vine. Incorrect pruning will never kill a clematis vine. Incorrect pruning may delay flowering for a month or two. Pruning is very important to help keep your plant in bounds, to encourage new growth and to produce more flowers.
There are three main pruning groups of Clematis vines.
Group A are varieties that flower only on growth produced the previous year. These varieties only bloom in the spring and they only bloom on the previous year’s growth. Don’t trim this type until right after they finish blooming in the spring. Prune them enough to control their size and shape. Remove any weak or dead stems. Do not prune before they bloom, or any later than June, or you will have fewer flowers the next year. Do not ever cut this type right to the ground. You need to preserve the main framework to get blossoms the next year.
Group B has two sub-groups. Group B1 are varieties that flower on the growth produced the previous year. They also produce flowers on the current season’s growth after it has matured. This group produces a heavy flush of flowers in May-June from the old wood. It is followed by a second, smaller, flush of flowers in the late-summer from the new wood.
Group B2 are varieties that flower simultaneously on both the growth produced the previous year and the current season’s growth. Varieties in this group normally bloom in termittently from June to September. Prune Group B in the spring to correct any problems and to train the vines the way you want them to grow. Leave some stems long and prune others short to help maintain a well-balanced plant. A severe pruning will reduce the number of flowers on the next bloom cycle, but it will not hurt the plant. If your Group B variety has been neglected for several years, it can be rejuvenated by severely cutting back most of the old growth. You will lose most of the flowers this spring but you will be amazed how fast your clematis recovers. You can prune Group B varieties again later in the summer, after the first bloom flush, to remove the older and spindly stems. By taking time to remove the old blossom stems you can sometimes help stimulate your clematis vine to bloom more profusely later in the year.
Group C are the varieties that only bloom on the current year’s growth. Blooms commence in early summer and continue to fall. These varieties should be pruned late-winter or early in the spring. You can prune as severely or as lightly as you need to. It is recommended to cut these Group C varieties to within three or four inches of the ground if you want blossoms spread evenly over the entire vine stems. If you don’t prune these varieties, the vines can get very large and the blossoms will only be on the new growth at the edges of the plant. New growth usually occurs near the tips of the old stems, not next to the ground or in the older branches.
Depending on how you prune Group C, you may only get blossoms on the top of the plants and have a bare stems at the bottom. Remember, Group C only produce flowers on the new growth. If you don’t know which type you have, watch it for a year to see when it blooms (in spring only, in summer only, or both spring and summer) and prune accordingly.
Clematis are quite resilient plants, and you are unlikely to kill your plant by pruning it wrong. The worst damage that is likely to hap pen by incorrect or untimely pruning would be the loss of flowers for one year
Insects and Diseases
Clematis are susceptible to ‘wilt’ diseases. It can occur at any time of the year but it is more prone to appear just as the flower buds begin to open. Wilt can affect the entire plant or it can affect just a few stems. It is important to remove any affected stems as soon as this disease appears to prevent it from spreading further. Newly planted clematis often die from this disease but it is very rare that an old plant dies completely. Too much water is often one of the causes of this disease. Unfortunately, there is no chemical control for this disease.
Keep your plant healthy by fertilizing and watering properly to prevent this disease from occurring. Powdery mildew is another disease to watch for. A pre ventative fungus spray is recommended if your vines have this disease problem every year, otherwise just treat powdery mildew if you see it appear. Earwigs, Slugs and Snails are the most common pests of clematis. Slugs and snails attack the new shoots and leaves, while earwigs go for the blossoms during the middle of the summer. Earwigs can turn a blossom in to lace-work over night.
Varieties
There are several kinds of clematis, and more than 300 varieties to choose from, but most people want to grow the large-flowered types. There is not one best variety, it is up to you to make the choice.
Anna Louise. Large, violet flowers with red-purple bar. Four to six inch diameter. Blooms June to August. Grows eight to ten feet long. Pruning Group B2. Asao. Pale rosy-carmine. Six to eight inch flowers. Blooms May, June and September. Grows six to eight feet. Pruning Group B1. Beauty of Worcester. Deep blue double flowers. Five to six inch diameter. Blooms May and June. Single blooms later in summer. Grows five to six feet. Pruning Group B1. Bees Jubilee. Mauve-pink with maroon bars. Six to eight inch diameter. Blooms in May, June and September. Grows six to nine feet. Pruning Group B1.
Belle of Woking. Silvery-blue double flowers. Four to six inch diameter. Blooms June and July with a few later in fall. Grows six to nine feet. Pruning Group B1. Blue Angel. Clear-blue. Three to four inch flowers. Blooms profusely June through September. Grows seven feet. Pruning Group C. Carnaby. Brilliant white with carmine-red bars. Dark maroon stamens. Five to six inch diameter. Blooms for an extended time; May, June, and September. The plant grows seven to nine feet long. Pruning group B1.
Comtesse de Bouchard. Rosy-pink blos soms. Four to six inch diameter. Blooms well from June to September, even without pruning. Grows six to twelve feet tall. Pruning group C. Crimson Star. Wine-red with chocolate stamens. Five to six inch diameter. Grows eight to twelve feet. Pruning group B2. Dr Ruppel. Non-fading, pink flowers with dark car mine-pink center bars. Six to eight inch diameter. Blooms pro fusely in May, June, and September. Grows eight to twelve feet long. Pruning group B1. Duchess of Edinburgh. Century old. Double, white flow ers. Four to six inch diameter.
Blooms May, June and possibly September. Grows eight to twelve feet. Pruning Group B1. Edo Murasaki. Deep-violet. Six to eight inch diameter. Blooms May, June, and possibly September. Grows eight to ten feet. Pruning Group B1. Elsa Spath. Rich violet-purple. Six to eight inch diameter. Blooms May, June and September. Grows eight to ten feet. Pruning Group B1. Ernest Markham. Magenta-red flowers. Five to seven inch diameter. Late-summer blooming (July, August, and September). This variety is very hardy and will grow ten to fifteen feet long. It is an old, reliable variety.
Pruning Group C. Etoile de Malicorne. Strong Grower. Bright magenta-red five to six inch blossoms. Blooms July to September. Grows ten feet. Pruning Group B1. Etoile Violette. Deep-purple. Four to five inch diameter. Blooms vigorously June to September. Grows eight to fourteen feet. Pruning Group C. C. florida Sieboldii. Creamy-white with deep-purple center. Three to four inch diameter. Blooms June to August. Provide shelter to extend blooming period. Grows six to ten feet. Nearly frost free location required. Pruning Group B1. Frederyk Chopin. Mauve. Seven to eight inch diameter.
Blooms late spring and late summer. Grows eight to twelve feet. Pruning Group B1. General Sikorski. Rich-lavender with a hint of red on the midribs. Four to six inch di ameter. Blooms June to September. Grows eight to ten feet long. Pruning group B2. Gypsy Queen. Rich plum-purple. Five to seven inch diameter. Blooms July to September. Grows ten to twelve feet. Pruning Group C. Hagley Hybrid. (Also known as Pink Chiffon) One of the easiest pink varieties to grow. This variety is very showy when blooming. The vine is covered with light pink flowers, five to six inch diameter.
It blooms from June to September. This variety can tolerate heavy pruning each spring without affect the blooming. Pruning group C.
Harlow Carr. Deep purple-blue flowers. Four inch diam eter. Blooms June to late-September, longest blooming variety. Grows eight to ten feet long. Pruning Group B2 or C. Henryi. Large white flowers. Six to seven inches diameter. Blossoms are suitable to use for cut flowers. Free blooming in the summer from June to September. Grows eight to twelve feet. Pruning group B2. H.F. Young. Wedgewood-blue flowers. Six to seven inch diameter.
A very compact plant which is good in containers, if protected from frost in the winter. Blooms May, June, and September. Pruning group B1. Horn of Plenty. Rosy-purple blossoms. Six to nine inch diameter. Blooms June to September. Grows eight to twelve feet. Pruning Group B2. Huldine. Pearly-white. Three to four inch diameter. Blooms vigorously from July to October. Grows twelve to twenty feet. Pruning Group C. Hyde Hall. Large Off-white flowers with green or pink tinge. Five to Seven inch diameter. Blooms May to July. Grows six to seven feet long. Pruning Group B2.
Jackmanii. This variety is one of the most popular and easiest clematis to grow. It has large, dark velvety-purple flowers, up to seven inches in diameter. It is summer blooming, June through August, variety but will re-bloom in the fall if cut back after flowering. It blooms best with warm spring weather. Grows twelve to twenty feet. This variety can be pruned heavily each year without affecting blooming. Pruning Group C. Jackmanii Superba. Purple. Four to six inch diameter.
Fuller flower than Jackmanii. Blooms from mid June to August. Grows twelve to twenty feet. Pruning Group C. John Warren. Greyish-white with carmine edges and mid ribs. Eight to ten inch diameter. Blooms June to September. Grows eight to ten feet. Pruning Group B2. Josephine. Large, double, lilac-pink flowers. Five to six inch diameter. Blooms May to August. Grows eight to ten feet long. Pruning Group B2. Lady Betty Balfour. Rich, deep-blue. Five to seven inch diameter. Blooms July through September. Grows twelve to twenty feet. Pruning Group C.
Lanuginosa Candida Pure-white. Eight inch diameter. Blooms from June to September. Grows eight to fourteen feet long. Pruning Group B2. Lawsoniana. Rosy lavender-blue blossom. Eight to ten inch diameter. Blooms June to September. Grows eight to fourteen feet. Pruning Group B2. Lincoln Star. Bright, raspberry-pink with paler edges. Six inch diameter. Blooms May, June and September. Grows eight to twelve feet. Pruning Group B2. Lord Nevill. Intense, dark-blue flowers. Popular for over one hundred years. Six to eight inch diameter. Blooms in May, June and September.
Grows eight to twelve feet. Pruning Group B2. Margot Koster. Rosy-red with whitish stamens. Four to six inch diameter. Blooms from June to September. Grows eight to fourteen feet long. Pruning Group C. Miss Bateman. Creamy-white with dark-red stamens. Four to six inch diameter. Blooms May and June. A favorite for over one hundred years. Grows six to eight feet. Pruning Group B1. Mme. Baron Veillard. One hundred year old variety. Bright, rosy-lilac-pink. Four to six inch diameter. Blooms in masses from August through September. Grows ten to fourteen feet.
Pruning Group C. Mme. Eduard Andre. Deep wine-red. Four to six inch diameter. Blooms from July to September. Grows eight to twelve feet. Pruning Group C. Mme. Grange. Unique dusky-purple. Four to six inch diameter. Blooms June to September. Grows eight to twelve feet tall. Pruning Group C. C. montana Elizabeth. Masses of pale, clear-pink flowers. Three inch diameter. Vanilla scented blossoms. Blooms in May and June. Grows twenty-five to thirty-five feet. Requires some winter protection. Pruning Group A. C. montana Pink Perfection. Soft deep-pink. Three inch diameter.
Blooms in May and June. Grows twenty-five to thirty-five feet. Requires some winter protection. Pruning Group A. C. montana rubens ‘Odorata’. Soft rose-pink flowers. Very fragrant. Two to three inch diameter. Blooms profusely May and June. Young leaves are purplish. Grows 20 feet long. Needs some winter protection. Pruning Group A. Mrs. Cholmondely. One hundred and twenty years old. Clear, light-lavender-blue. Seven to nine inch diameter. Blooms from May to September. Grows fourteen to twenty feet. Pruning Group B1. Mrs. George Jackman. Creamy-white. Six to eight inch diameter.
Blooms May, June and September. Compact plant grows seven to nine feet. Pruning Group B1. Mrs. N. Thompson. Deep, violet-purple edges with red bar. Four to six inch diameter. Blooms in May, June and September. Compact eight to ten foot plant. Pruning Group B1. Multi Blue. Lavender-blue. Unique over sized stamens. Four to six inch diameter. Blooms from June to September. Pruning Group B1. Nelly Moser. Pale rosy-lilac with dark-pink bars. Seven to nine inch diameter. Free flowering that blooms May, June and September. The blossoms make good cut flowers.
Grows eight to twelve feet. Pruning Group B1. Niobe. Dark, ruby-red flowers. Four to six inch diameter. Grows six to eight feet tall. Blooms from June through September. Pruning Group B2 or C. Pink Champagne. Purple-pink flowers. Six to eight inch diameter. Blooms from June through September. Grows seven to nine feet tall. Pruning Group B1. Ramona. Lavender-blue. Five to seven inch diameter. Blooms June through September. Very vigorous vine will grow ten to fifteen feet long. Pruning Group B2. Rosemoor. Large reddish-purple flowers. Five to six inch diameter.
Blooms May to September. Grows eight to nine feet long. Pruning Group B2. Rouge Cardinal. Glowing-crimson. Four to six inch diameter. Blooms from June to September. Grows eight to ten feet tall. Pruning Group C. Royalty. Purple-blue. Four to six inch diameter. Double blossoms. Blooms in May and June. Grows eight to twelve feet. Pruning Group B1. Star of India. Hybridized in the eighteen-sixties. Similar to Jackmanii. Purple with red bar. Four to six inch diameter. Blooms from June to September. Grows twelve to fifteen feet. Pruning Group C. C. tangutica Golden-yellow, drooping flowers.
Two inch diameter. Attractive seed heads in fall. Blooms June to September. Grows ten to twelve feet long. Pruning Group C. The President. Deep-purple. Six to eight inch diameter. Strong grower. Blooms June to September. Grows eight to twelve feet long. Pruning Group B2. The Vagabond. Deep-purple with shades of crimson on the center rib. Five to six inch diameter. Blooms late May to October. Compact four to five foot plant. Pruning Group B2. Ville de Lyon. Unique flower with carmine edge fading to lighter inner area. Four to six inch diameter. Blooms June through September.
Grows eight to twelve feet. Pruning Group B2 or C. Violet Charm. Rich, violet-blue. Seven to nine inch diameter. Blooms June to September. Grows eight to ten feet tall. Pruning group B2. Violet Elizabeth. Delicate mauve-pink. Six inch diameter. Double flowers in May and June, single flowers later in summer. Grows eight to twelve feet long. Pruning Group B1. C. viticella Polish Spirit. Deep-purple flowers. Three to four inch diameter. Blooms from June to September. Grows ten to twelve feet long. Pruning Group C. C. viticella Royal Velours. Rich, reddish-purple.
Two to three inch diameter. Blooms July to September. Grows ten to twelve feet long. Pruning Group C. Vyvyan Pennell. Best known of all the doubles. Violet-blue with reddish overtones. Six to eight inch diameter. Double flowers in May and June. Single flowers light-violet in mid-August. Grows eight to twelve feet long. Pruning Group B1. Walter Pennell. Unique color, shades of deep mauve-pink to carmine-pink. Six to eight inch diameter. Not fully double flowers. Blooms in May and June, with single flowers in late August. Grows eight to twelve feet. Pruning Group B1.
Warsaw Nike. Rich, velvet-purple. Five to seven inch diameter. Blooms from mid May to August. Grows eight to twelve feet long. Pruning Group B2. Will Goodwin. Lavender-blue flowers with wavy edges. Six to eight inch diameter. Blooms June to September. Grows eight to ten feet long. Pruning Group B1. Wisley. Large-bluish flowers. Four to five inch diameter. Blooms June to September. Grows eight to nine feet long. Pruning Group B2 or C. Try planting a clematis next to an old shade tree or pine tree. Let it grow up the tree and enjoy the surprise of blossoms at the top of the tree. Clematis can also be trained to grow into spring flowering shrubs (lilacs, forsythias, spireas), roses (bush types or climbers), or with other vines.
Add a little variety in your yard with the ‘Queen of Vines’.