Evergreen clematis: how to choose, plant and cultivate

Which evergreen clematis variety to choose?

Les clematis armandii offer a lovely white or pink flowering in late winter, which stands out against their dark green, glossy foliage. They thrive against a south-facing wall and do not tolerate exposure to cold winds. For a slightly more colourful flowering, choose the clematis cirrhosa, particularly the varieties ‘Advent Bells’ or ‘Freckles’, which bloom in mid-winter, sometimes as early as December. They are very little hardy and will need to be planted in pots and brought indoors for winter if you live in northern France. Also discover the clematis ‘Winter Beauty’, which will charm you with its lovely bell-shaped white flowers. However, it is quite delicate to cultivate!

Clematis armandii - Evergreen Clematis

This is the most common species among evergreen clematis. It produces a multitude of fragrant white flowers in March and has beautiful glossy dark green leaves. Plant it in a sheltered position from cold winds, preferably against a south-facing wall. It tolerates temperatures down to -10 °C and can also adapt to planting in woodland.

• Flowering time April, May
• Height at maturity 4 m

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Clematis armandii Apple Blossom

This is a spectacular clematis that bears beautiful white flowers with a hint of pink from the end of winter, blooming from pink floral buds. It is appreciated for the delicate hue of its flowers and their pleasant vanilla fragrance! It has superb dark green foliage, with bronze tones when young. It grows quite quickly and thrives in sunny, well-drained soil. It is more resilient than the typical species and does not require pruning.

• Flowering time April, May
• Height at maturity 4 m

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Clematis x cartmanii Early Sensation

This variety is covered in late winter with an abundant white flowering, contrasted by a green-yellow centre. These are simple flowers, measuring 8 cm in diameter. It has fine, deeply cut, glossy foliage. Feel free to plant them in a container that you can place on a terrace or balcony, as the stems will beautifully cascade over the edge. It tolerates temperatures down to -10 °C and can grow in northern France, unlike cirrhosa clematis. Plant it in full sun, in a sheltered position from the wind.

• Flowering time April, May
• Height at maturity 3 m

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Clematis urophylla Winter Beauty

The clematis 'Winter Beauty' is appreciated for its elegant flowering in the form of white bell-shaped flowers. It blooms a little earlier than other varieties, starting in December or January. It is a remarkable variety, but unfortunately quite delicate to cultivate and not hardy. It does not tolerate temperatures dropping below -3 °C or when the soil remains wet in winter. If you live in northern France, you will need to plant it in a pot and bring it under cover for the winter.

• Height at maturity 3 m

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The clematis cirrhosa

The clematis cirrhosa are native to the Mediterranean region and are not very hardy. They can reach up to three metres in height and adapt well to pot cultivation, allowing them to be brought indoors for winter.

Clematis cirrhosa var. balearica

It blooms from December or January, bearing small pale yellow flowers, punctuated with light purplish spots, and has superb dark green, finely divided foliage that turns bronze in winter. It is vigorous but fears humid winters. It originates from the Balearic Islands, but is also found in Sardinia and Corsica.

• Height at maturity 3 m

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Clematis x cirrhosa Advent Bells

It bears cream-white flowers, punctuated with numerous purplish spots. It thus brings colour in winter! It has dark green, glossy foliage.

• Height at maturity 4 m

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Clematis cirrhosa Winter Parasol

This variety offers a yellow cream flowering speckled with a few purplish spots. It blooms very early, sometimes as early as November! It has beautiful cut and glossy leaves.

• Height at maturity 2,50 m

See the product sheet

When to plant them?

Plant your clematis in spring, around May, after the last frosts. It is important for the plant to settle in as quickly as possible, to help it better withstand winter temperatures.

Clematis armandii ‘Apple Blossom’

Where to plant evergreen clematis?

Plant your clematis preferably in full sun, but with the base in shade.

Evergreen clematis need a sheltered location from the wind to thrive. Avoid placing them in an area exposed to winter winds. North of the Loire, a well-protected situation is almost essential for them to withstand severe cold. Plant them against a trellis at the foot of a south or south-west facing wall. Armandii clematis will tolerate being planted in open ground in northern France, unlike cirrhosa clematis.

We advise against planting them in regions with a mountain or continental climate, as they will struggle to survive the winter, even when protected… Unless, of course, you cultivate them in pots and bring them indoors for the winter.

Clematis are delicate and demanding plants. They appreciate deep, rich, humus-bearing soils. If your soil is poor, you will need to add compost to enrich it. The soil must also remain moist, but be sufficiently draining. They do not like excess moisture in winter. To facilitate water drainage, you can add gravel, garden sand, or pumice to your soil.

Install cirrhosa clematis in full sun and well-draining soil, as they do not tolerate wet soils in winter. They will thrive against a wall facing full south. Less hardy than other varieties, they will need protection, either by planting them in pots and bringing them under cover for the winter, or by planting them against a south-facing wall and applying a thick mulch at the base… Unless you live in the Mediterranean region!

How to plant them properly?

• Soak the root ball in a basin filled with water to rehydrate it.
• Using a spade or a shovel, dig a planting hole two to three times the size of the root ball. You can add a layer of gravel, sand for gardens, or pumice to ensure good drainage. Then, place some potting soil in the planting hole, mixed with a bit of compost.
• Without untangling the roots, lay the root ball in the hole, which encourages the development of lateral buds.
• Fill in by adding potting soil around the plant and gently firm it down, then water.
• We suggest installing a mulch at the base of the clematis to keep the soil cool.
• Continue to water regularly in the year of planting.
• You can also plant your clematis in a pot. In this case, it will require more frequent watering and regular repotting.

How to care for them?

• Water in case of prolonged drought, especially during the first few years.
• In spring and autumn, add organic matter, in the form of compost or well-decomposed manure.
• You can prune very lightly your clematis in spring, once the flowering is finished, using a pruning shear that is well cleaned. Remove damaged or poorly positioned branches and shorten the longest stems. These evergreen varieties can also do without pruning.
• Evergreen clematis are quite not hardy. Below -5 °C, protect the plant with a winter cover, especially during the first few years. After three years, it will be strong enough to do without protection. If you have planted it in a pot, you can bring it inside a conservatory for the winter.