Clematis vines are always known for their showy flowers, and once you own your own vine you will also tend to notice other peoples more when you’re out walking. There are over 200 varieties so it certainly makes it more interesting to try to spot different ones. The clematis likes to have its head in the sun and its feet in the shade.
Clematis vines can grow from 6 to 20 feet or more, and have different blooming times. The perennial vines do not tolerate transplanting well, so choose a spot that you like and leave it there. They produce the most flowers in full sun, but prefer a cool root run by putting three inches of mulch on the top of the root- this will help protect it.
Clematis climbs by their twining tendrils that attach to trellises, fences and other bushes. If you want them to climb up a tree trunk, wrap some mesh around the trunk for the vine to cling to. You have to be patient with the vines as the first year they sleep, the second year they creep and the third year they leap and then they are magnificent.
My neighbour recently pruned her clematis one morning before work taking away all the old dried growth, and returned after work to what looked like a dead dropping clematis. You have to be careful when you prune, because vines that flower in spring produce flowers from the previous year’s growth, so excessive pruning will reduce the blooms.
Spring flowering clematis require light pruning to tidy up its appearance after it blooms in may-June. Summer and fall flowering clematis produce blooms on new growth, so vines should be pruned to the ground in late winter or early spring. If you’re not sure which type you have, watch it for a season and see when it flowers.
When planting, dig a hole four to five inches deeper than the root bulb and fill that area with enriched soil mix. If it is in a plastic container, remove this. If it is a fibre pot it can be left in the pot but remove only the rim to just below the soil line and make three cuts halfway up from the bottom. These pots decompose in the soil so place the plant in the hole, making sure it is 6 cm deeper than when it was in its container, then back fill with enriched soil and three inches of mulch on top.
You must water regularly when first planted to ensure the root ball does not dry out and should be fertilized with organic fertilizer regularly as well. It is important that the root bulb stay cool so try to plant it behind low growing leafy shrubs or perennials to produce a little shade for the plant.
To me, clematis is one of those hidden gems.
Next time you’re out try to spot how many different ones you can see.
Nicola Bishop
bishop4086@rogers.com
Can someone tell me what type of clematis that is in the photo at the very top?
I did some research on that particular photo and I think that there are two different colours
of clematis growing together the blue one is called Mrs. Cholmondeley and the pink is called Mrs. Yuki. I hope this will be of some help, because there are so many different species it is hard to match them up perfectly.
Nicola