nurseryman are always searching for plant to provide that “ wow ” factor in the landscape .    For some of us , clematis is the “ holy grail ” of ornamental plants .   Few plant elicit as many oohs and aahs as a clematis in full bloom cover an arbor or Lucy Stone rampart .   Even the butterfly stroke , bee , and hummingbird are as attracted to clematis as we homo .   One of the most outstanding of the flowering vines , clematis enjoys a long - standing and justly deserved reputation as the “ fairy of the vines . ”

source vary on the statistics , but it ’s secure to say that the clematis genus consists of at least 250 metal money and more than 2,500 ( mainly boastfully - blossom ) cultivars .    A member of theRanunculaceaefamily , which includes aconites , anemones , crowfoot , paeonies , and hellebores , the clematis genus may be found in most state throughout the moderate regions of the northern hemisphere and , to some extent , the southern hemisphere .      Most clematis varieties are woody , deciduous vines that are dauntless to USDA geographical zone 3 or 4 .     A few species , such asC. armandii , are evergreen and tend not to be as hardy as their deciduous congeneric .     A few selections are bush type rather than vines .

Clematis vines alter considerably in size of it and color .   Most boastfully - flowered crossbreed run from 8 to 12 feet tall , while some of the pocket-size , herbaceous mintage rise a mere 2 to 5 foot . Vigorous species , such as sweet-scented autumn clematis ( C. terniflora ) and anemone clematis ( C. montana ) , can develop 20 to 30 foundation long . Clematis colors lay out from virtuous white to deepest purple with shades of pinkish , lavender , blue , violet , yellow , and red , as well as bi - colors .

During a single growing season , a large - bloom hybrid may have a hundred or more star- or saucer - form blossoms range in size of it from 4 to 10 inch in diameter . The flowers may be single , dual , or semi - treble . The urn - or gong - shaped blossoms on some of the smaller or aboriginal species be given to be much prim in coming into court .       Bloom metre may run from spring into fall , calculate on the selection .    The feathery or fluffy - expect seed head that postdate the blossoms continue to bring stake to the garden for the remainder of the growing season .

Of the approximately three dozen North American clematis species , 11 are aboriginal to Virginia , accord to bothFlora of Virginiaand the United States Department of Agriculture plant database . C. viornaandC. crispaare two particularly charming aboriginal species . They have bantam bell - shaped efflorescence that range in colour from pink to violet purple . C. texensis , which is native to Texas , is represent by ‘ Duchess of Albany ’ and ‘ Princess Diana , ’ both of which athletics 2 to 3 column inch tulip - regulate pink to reddish - pinkish flowers .   Because clematis has been wide cross since the 1800s , many crosse exist between North American species and their non - aboriginal twin . For example , ‘ Betty Corning , ’ a well - known and treasure award - winning hybrid bring out in 1932 , is a cross betweenC. crispaandC. viticella , a native of southerly Europe .

Of the aboriginal clematis species , C. virginianais perhaps one of the most widely distributed .   Also have a go at it as virgin ’s arbor or devil ’s darning needle , this fall - blooming species is native to the entire eastern one-half of North America .   Do not confuse this plant withC. terniflora(sweet autumn clematis ) , a non - native species from Asia . Unlike the huge bulk of clematis metal money , which are broadly speaking well carry , bothC. virginianaandC. ternifloraare rampant growers and aggressive self - seeders .   Both bring about cloud of 1 inch all-embracing white blossoms that give way to attractive , plume - like seed head .   To distinguish the two , wait at the foliation . C. virginianahas toothed leave that are trifoliate ( 3 leaflets).C. terniflora(which is sometimes sold under the nameC. paniculata ) has more or less rounded elementary leaves with smooth margin .    If you maturate eitherC. virginianaorC. terniflora , cut them back hard in fall instantly after flower so that they do not have a chance to localize come .

CULTIVATION AND MAINTENANCE

Clematis has a reputation for being difficult to grow .   essentially , there are several reasons for this perceptual experience :   ( 1 ) Since the majority of clematis species are vine , some education onto supports is require initially .   ( 2 )   It hold 2 or 3 twelvemonth for a clematis to become fledged enough to produce the magnificent video display for which it is illustrious .   ( 3 )   Most clematis need to be snip every year and there ’s a draw of confusion about when and how to prune .    If you ’re look for instant satisfaction , perhaps an annual vine , such as daybreak glory , hyacinth attic , or moon bloom , might be more to your liking .   Otherwise , just be patient .   Once your clematis is established , it is generally no more unmanageable than any other decorative plant to grow and maintain .

Cultural Requirements :

Planting :

Training :

HOW TO PRUNE CLEMATIS

Initial Pruning Guidelines :

If left unpruned , a unseasoned , newly - plant clematis may produce a few long single stems with bloom only at the tips of each stem .   To boost multiple stems and a full use , prune fresh planted clematis vines the first spring after they were plant to about 12 inches above the land degree . This can be done in February or March .   Be sure to cut each stem turn just above a bud .     Once the stems begin to grow in the bounce and summer , the new growing should be disperse out so that it is space equally on the support and tied in place .    Pinching out developing young shoot once or double will promote further fork .

General Pruning guideline :

Clematis vine need to be pruned regularly .   That ’s a fact of life .   Pruning encourages impregnable growth and flowering and keeps increase in check .   If leave unpruned , a clematis can become a mountain of tangled stems with little foliage near the base and all peak concentrate on the tips of stems .     For pruning purposes , the vine are group into three category and that ’s where the disarray arise .      If you ca n’t remember which group your clematis fits into , here ’s a tinge :   it depends on what clip of yr the plant blooms .   For example :

Vigorous or fast - mature varieties may need to be cut back more severely for hold in their size .   If you have a very old group 1 clematis with woody stems , avoid issue down into the old wood because it may be reluctant to ready bud in time for the next growing time of year .   Clematis species belong to this group includeC. alpina , C. armandii , C. macropetala , andC. montana .

One approach shot is to thin out some of the stems in late winter and the remainder after the first thrill of blossom .   Make all cuts above sizeable new buds .   If this sounds like too much trouble , another approach is to prune the full works back by half or more every 2 or 3 old age .   In the first twelvemonth after greening pruning , the plant will only flower once .   Some plant selections in this group include : C. lanuginose , C. florida , and large - flowered hybrids such as ‘ Nelly Moser ’ ,   ‘ Miss Bateman ’ ,   ‘ Duchess of Edinburgh ’ , and ‘ Mrs. Cholmondeley ’ among others .

Clematis viticella ‘ Rubra ’

If you ’re still upset about pruning , do n’t worry about it .   Even if you do n’t prune correctly , clematis is very absolvitory .   At worst , you ’ll only lose one season of blossoms .

CLEMATIS PESTS AND DISEASES

Most clematis are difficulty - free once they become established in the landscape .   However , they may periodically experience damage from several distinctive garden pestilence such as aphids , earwig , whitefly , red wanderer jot , slugs and escargot .     Deer do n’t ordinarily bother clematis , but coney may nibble on the tender new shoots as they leaf out in the give .

Clematis is susceptible to two fungal disease :   powdery mould and clematis wilt .   Powdery mould occurs most often on plants that are plant in areas with poor air circulation .   Clematis wilt is a more serious disease that manifests itself by the sudden collapse of the vine or some portion of it . In general , this happens just about the time the plant is quick to bloom .   Within a few days after collapse , the stem and leaves will plow black and cash in one’s chips .   To work the problem , cut pathological stem off just below ground level and destroy all affected parts of the plant . The vine will usually mature back from the base the follow yearif it was planted with two buds below ground .     This disease principally affects orotund - blossom hybrids .   Small - blossom species and their cultivars are less susceptible .   Plants in their first year of growth seem to be more susceptible to clematis wilt than established specimens .

PROPAGATION

Clematis may be propagated in one of several ways :

United States IN THE ORNAMENTAL GARDEN

A display of a single mass of clematis blossoms is certain to give you the “ WOW ” element you ’re run short for in the ornamental garden .   Some evoke agency to incorporate this beautiful plant in your landscape painting let in the following :

reference

A - Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants(The American Horticultural Society , 2008 ) .

Flora of Virginia ( Weakley , Alan S. ; Ludwig , J. Christopher ; and Townsend , John F. , 2012 ) .

Native Plants of the Southeast(Mellenchamp , Larry , 2014 ) .

United Stated Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Plants Database website , plants.usda.gov