![]() viticella was cultivated as early as 1549 by avid botanist Hugh Morgan, Apothecary to Queen Elizabeth I.Īnd cultivation of the Chinese species C. ![]() One of the first imported species to the UK, C. Cultivation and HistoryĬlematis has rightfully earned the moniker Queen of the Vines for its spectacular climbing performance and is aptly named from the ancient Greek word “klema,” which loosely means climbing vine. Plant hardiness varies extensively, but generally falls in the range of USDA Zones 3 to 9 – although there are a few selections that extend into cooler zones and several for warmer regions. Instead, they climb using leaf tendrils to twist around supporting structures such as trellises or other plants. Unlike other ornamental vines, clematis are non-clinging and don’t damage building exteriors. The vines feature opposing leaves that range from long, narrow, and glossy with a thick, leathery texture on the evergreens, to divided and lightly toothed foliage on the deciduous vines. Group 2 are the reblooming summer varieties. Group 1 are the early flowering vines that bloom in late winter and spring. smilacifolia is a fragrant evergreen native to India that does well in hot, humid climates.įor the home gardener, plants are divided into three groups, and each group has a different flowering time and different pruning requirements. ![]() However, there is one tropical species – C. Most species are native to temperate regions, with deciduous vines hailing from colder climates and the less-hardy evergreens being indigenous to warmer regions. But there are also the sprawling early varieties that can stretch out an impressive 20 to 40 feet.ĭepending on the species, growth is either deciduous or evergreen. The small, herbaceous types grow only a few feet and many of the showy summer varieties are in the range of eight to 15 feet. However, most of the summer-flowering group are without scent, with a few exceptions – ‘Fragrant Star,’ ‘Pacific Cup,’ and ‘Sweet Summer Love’ are noted for their sweet perfume. Some flowers feature a sweet, vanilla-like fragrance such as the early-flowering C. And in early spring, hummingbirds often collect the remaining silky threads for nesting material. Many also feature prominent, showy seed heads in autumn with swirling, silken threads that last into winter, giving multiple seasons of interest. Flower size and orientation also varies, ranging from small, nodding bells to massive, open-faced pinwheels. If easy-care vines covered in flowers sound like something your garden needs, then let’s dig into the complete clematis growing guide!įlower colors include blue, gold, lavender, pink, purple, red, yellow, and white. And yes, a bit of extra attention when planting will make a big difference in their ongoing performance.īut once established, the brilliant yearly masses of climbing, tumbling flowers will make you forget all about that little bit of extra initial effort.Įven pruning clematis is easy – it’s true! Once you know our easy-to-remember pruning tip, that is… keep reading for that. It’s true that they’re finicky about where they like to set their roots. Flower sizes range from small and delicate to large plate-sized blossoms, and some even fill the air with sweet perfume.įlowering times range from late winter right through to autumn, with certain species putting on two command performances over the growing season!Īnd they come in a great variety of sizes suitable for a myriad of settings that includes borders, containers, ground covers, screens, and trellises.īut, they do have a reputation for being a bit difficult to grow – with confusion over pruning being the main reason.ĭespite rumors to the contrary, clematis vines are vigorous, reliable ornamentals and they are simple to cultivate with little effort. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. ![]() We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. ![]()
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