Clematis

Clematis is a perennial vine that produces hundreds of flowers for weeks at a time. Clematis is also known as devil’s darning needles and virgin’s bower. The flower color and plant size selection is large and growing. Clematis produces many sizes of flowers, some very large (5 inches) and some almost minute (1 inch). Bloom times vary by variety. Some will bloom as early as June and as late as September. Small flowered varieties offer more blooms and over a longer period of time than larger bloomed varieties. The ideal planting location for maximum bloom is where the clematis plant will receive at least 6 hours of sun. It prefers well drained, humus-rich soils and ideally the root system should be shaded or mulched at the very least. Most clematis will grow well in soil pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Lime may be added to very acidic soils to promote faster growth and more flowering.

Clematis is a heavy water user. A large mature vine can use in excess of 2 gallons of water a day during the hot summer so supplemental watering is important. In colder climates mulch should be applied in the fall to help protect the root systems. Clematis prefers cool roots, or shaded roots, during the growing season. Planting shallow rooted annuals or perennials, such as hosta, can provide the clematis roots with a cooler environment. Clematis can be grown in containers. The containers need to be well drained and kept moist. Use a container that is at least 2 feet deep and about that wide. We offer several clematis varieties and they are listed below.