Clematis: Planting, Pruning and Care

Botany of Clematis: A Fascinating Diversity

With nearly 300 species and 400 cultivated varieties, clematis offer remarkable diversity! This genus includes climbing plants, small perennials and even shrubs. The most common garden varieties are large-flowered climbers, but non-climbing clematis are also cultivated.

Native to Europe, Asia, Australia, and North/Central America, many species originate from China. In France, the Old Man’s Beard (Clematis vitalba) commonly grows in hedgerows and woodland edges – you’ve certainly encountered it! Its long, flexible stems are used in basket weaving.

Belonging to the Ranunculaceae family (which includes hellebores, delphiniums and columbines), its name derives from Greek Klema, meaning “flexible shoot”.

Clematis are fast-growing climbing plants that use twisting leaf stalks to grip supports. Unlike self-clinging ivy, they require trellises or frameworks to climb.

Clematis florida ‘Sieboldii’: botanical illustration

Most varieties reach 2-4 metres, though some attain 15m. Non-climbing types like C. heracleifolia, C. integrifolia and C. recta grow as perennials, while others trail or cascade from containers.

Clematis flowers display extraordinary diversity – from exuberant, brightly-coloured cascades to delicate, subtle blooms like C. fusca. The unusual winter-flowering C. cirrhosa produces small bicoloured flowers (white with purple spots). Species with bell-shaped blooms offer wild, natural charm. Flower diameter ranges from 2cm to 20cm in some hybrids.

Flower forms vary dramatically. Single blooms appear natural and simple, while doubles seem sophisticated. Atragene group clematis produce charming spring bell-flowers, while unusual varieties like ‘Octopus’ feature long, spreading violet sepals. Some resemble tulip flowers.

Interestingly, the colourful parts are sepals (4-10 per flower), not petals. Typically pink, white, blue or violet (sometimes red), they create soft, romantic effects. Yellow varieties like C. tangutica also exist. Dark sepals often contrast beautifully with prominent stamens.

Some clematis produce fragrant blooms, like orange blossom-scented C. armandii ‘Apple Blossom’.

Flowering periods vary by variety – spring through autumn, with winter blooms from C. cirrhosa types. C. armandii flowers as early as March, while late varieties continue until October. Some reblooming cultivars flower twice annually!

Modern diversity stems partly from Japanese C. patens, which revolutionised hybridisation. These varieties (including famous ‘Dr Ruppel’ and ‘Nelly Moser’) often bloom spring and late summer.

Clematis vitalba seedheads

Foliage varies from simple to divided leaflets, with smooth or toothed edges. C. armandii has leathery, glossy leaves. Most garden clematis are deciduous, though some (like C. armandii) are evergreen.

Distinctive decorative seedheads feature feathery plumes attached to each seed. Most clematis tolerate -15°C to -20°C, except less hardy cirrhosa types.

Clematis are divided into three pruning groups:

1. Early-flowering types bloom on previous year’s growth. Includes C. alpina, C. montana, C. macropetala and evergreens like C. armandii and C. cirrhosa.
2. Large-flowered early varieties that flower on old wood in spring, then new growth in summer. Examples: ‘Nelly Moser’, ‘Dr Ruppel’ and C. florida.
3. Late large-flowered varieties blooming on current season’s growth. Includes ‘Jackmanii’, C. terniflora, C. viticella, C. tangutica and herbaceous types.

Clematis flowers display incredible variety!

Botanical Species

• Clematis vitalba

Our native wild clematis, common in French hedgerows and woodland edges. Bears fragrant white flowers followed by feathery seedheads. Its long stems are used in basketry.

• Clematis montana

This vigorous Himalayan species flowers profusely in spring. The pink-flowered ‘Mayleen’ is particularly striking.

• Clematis viticella

Produces abundant small blue/purple summer flowers. Parent to hybrids like ‘Mme Julia Correvon’ and ‘Étoile Violette’.

• Clematis alpina

Another early bloomer with violet bell-flowers and ornamental seedheads.

The main varieties of clematis

The Most Popular Varieties:

Our Favourite Varieties:

Other Varieties to Discover:

Clematis fargesii Summersnow

Very popular, this clematis offers a multitude of small white star-shaped flowers in summer. It's an especially vigorous variety with long creamy-white stamens. It is deciduous. Also sold under the name Clematis ‘Paul Farges’. Awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (RHS).

• Flowering time August to October
• Height at maturity 5 m

See the product sheet

Clematis montana Mayleen

In spring, this clematis is covered with a multitude of small fragrant flowers that blanket its bronze-tinged green foliage. The blooms consist of four pink sepals surrounding yellow stamens. A robust and vigorous variety, it may rebloom in late summer.

• Flowering time June
• Height at maturity 8,10 m

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Clematis jackmanii - Clematis vine

This clematis bears large flowers with four deep purple sepals that contrast beautifully with creamy-white stamens. Easy to grow, it produces abundant blooms throughout summer! This historic variety, introduced in 1862, has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (RHS).

• Flowering time July to October
• Height at maturity 3 m

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Clematis armandii Apple Blossom

This vigorous clematis bears pleasantly fragrant white flowers with pale pink undersides to the sepals. They emerge from soft pink buds and are beautifully complemented by elongated bronze-green foliage, which persists in winter! Hardy down to -10°C.

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

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Clematis integrifolia Baby Star 'Zobast'

A compact, small clematis ideal for container growing on patios or balconies. It produces abundant white blooms in summer, flowering twice—first with semi-double flowers in spring, followed by single blooms in summer.

• Flowering time June to October
• Height at maturity 1,50 m

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Clematis Picotee

This variety will charm you with its large, star-shaped bicoloured flowers. The white sepals edged in pink give it great appeal! It flowers twice—in spring and again in late summer. A recent introduction, well-suited to container growing.

• Flowering time June to October
• Height at maturity 2 m

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Clematis terniflora

Native to Asia, this semi-evergreen species offers a late, highly fragrant bloom. In late summer, it bears numerous small white flowers and boasts glossy, dark green foliage. Exceptionally vigorous, this clematis grows rapidly and becomes quite large—choose it only if you have space to accommodate it.

• Flowering time September to November
• Height at maturity 4 m

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Clematis lanuginosa Nelly Moser

This compact variety bears large, luminous flowers. The sepals are pink at the centre, edged in white—the reverse of Clematis Picotee! Easy to grow and tolerant of partial shade; full sun may cause the blooms to fade. This historic variety has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (RHS).

• Flowering time June to October
• Height at maturity 3 m

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Clematis viticella Astra nova

In summer, this clematis produces stunning star-shaped flowers with deep purple sepals and a central white stripe. Though simple and elegant, the display is spectacular. Suitable for container growing.

• Flowering time July to October
• Height at maturity 2,50 m

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Clematis diversifolia Fascination

A delightful clematis with bell-shaped flowers! Loved for its charming small violet-blue blooms, which can even be used as cut flowers for bouquets. Its compact habit makes it ideal for pots.

• Flowering time July to September
• Height at maturity 1,50 m

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Clematis florida Sieboldii

A clematis with striking flowers—white sepals surrounding deep purple stamens create a dramatic contrast! Later, it bears decorative feathery seedheads.

• Flowering time June to August
• Height at maturity 2,50 m

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Clematis flammula Aromatica

This variety offers small, sweetly scented flowers! The slender, elongated violet sepals contrast beautifully with the creamy-white stamens at the centre.

• Flowering time August to October
• Height at maturity 1,50 m

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Clematis My Angel - Golden Clematis

A highly original clematis that will surprise you with its small bell-shaped flowers in yellow and brick-red, with dark stamens at the centre. Unlike any other! After flowering, it produces decorative seedheads.

• Flowering time August to November
• Height at maturity 3 m

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Clematis patens Piilu

A clematis that will brighten your borders with its zesty hues! It offers a long, abundant display of lovely star-shaped flowers with pink petals and yellow stamens. It flowers twice—in spring and again in summer. Its compact habit allows for container growing.

• Flowering time June to November
• Height at maturity 2 m

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Clematis patens Madame Lecoultre

A classic, well-loved variety that continues to charm with its elegant, generous blooms. Its large flowers (up to 20 cm across!), pure white with creamy-yellow stamens at the centre, are unforgettable. Also sold as ‘Marie Boisselot’. Awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (RHS).

• Flowering time July to October
• Height at maturity 2,50 m

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Clematis x patens Westerplatte

A remarkable variety that bears large, fragrant deep red flowers all summer—even the stamens are red! Its compact habit suits container growing. Fast-growing, it’s prized for its intense colour.

• Flowering time July to October
• Height at maturity 2 m

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Clematis Twinkle

One of the few herbaceous clematis! It dies back completely in winter and regrows from the base in spring. In summer, it produces small, fragrant pale mauve-blue bell-shaped flowers. Ideal for pots or grown in borders like a perennial.

• Flowering time June to October
• Height at maturity 1 m

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Clematis texensis Princess Diana - Scarlet Leather Flower

This clematis offers a dazzling display all summer! Its bright pink-red flowers resemble tulip blooms! Suitable for container growing, its vibrant colour will add dynamism to your borders.

• Flowering time September to November
• Height at maturity 1,50 m

See the product sheet

Clematis fusca

A final clematis, native to Asia and particularly charming. Highly unusual, it bears small, discreet brown velvety bell-shaped flowers. It dies back in winter and regrows in spring. Prefers lightly shaded spots. Loved for its delicate, natural charm!

• Flowering time July to October
• Height at maturity 1,50 m

See the product sheet

Planting Clematis

Where to plant?

Clematis is a fussy plant: you need to find the perfect spot it will love! It enjoys having its head in the sun and its feet in the shade. Above all, it needs plenty of light. Place it in full sun alongside perennials or small shrubs that will shade its base. However, some hybrids, like Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’, should be planted in lightly shaded areas. In full sun, they would lose the intensity of their colours!

Clematis absolutely need deep soil, as their strong roots penetrate far underground. Shallow or compacted soils won’t suit them, which is why we recommend working the soil deeply before planting to loosen and aerate it.

Clematis thrives in rich, humus-rich soils. If your soil is poor, you can enrich it with compost. The soil should remain cool but well-drained, as clematis hates excess moisture (especially in winter), as well as drought. It will also appreciate being planted in a sheltered spot from the wind, which could damage its fragile stems. Avoid overly confined spaces (such as squeezed between a wall and other plants), which encourage fungal diseases. Clematis is demanding: if it doesn’t grow, move it!

You can also plant it in a pot and place it on a balcony or terrace. For this purpose, choose the most compact varieties! Lastly, know that you don’t have to train your clematis to climb—you can also let it sprawl over the ground or a slope! For example, the variety ‘Robert Brydon’ makes an excellent ground cover, forming a carpet of mauve flowers.

Also read our article How to Fail at Planting Your Climbers?

When to plant?

Planting is possible year-round, avoiding periods of heavy frost or extreme heat, but the ideal time is in spring.

How to plant?

Provide a support. Unlike ivy, which clings directly to walls using its aerial roots, clematis needs a trellis to twine its tendrils and climb.

• Soak the root ball in a bucket of water
• Dig a deep planting hole
• Add a layer of drainage at the bottom of the hole
• Mix garden soil with compost and fertiliser
• Place the root ball at an angle, tilted towards its support
• Water generously and guide the stems towards the support

For more details and tips, see our dedicated guide: Planting Clematis.

You can mulch with pine bark to keep the soil cool. We also recommend planting perennials around the base to protect it from the sun. Continue watering in the weeks after planting. And watch out for slugs or snails that might nibble on young plants! You can also plant clematis in pots.

Follow our video guide for planting clematis!

How to care for your clematis?

Apart from their size, clematis require relatively little maintenance. You can regularly remove faded flowers, except for varieties that produce decorative fruits. Add some compost in early spring. Water your clematis only in midsummer, avoiding direct watering at the base of the stems. The rest of the time, there’s no need to water unless there’s a drought. Be especially careful about excess moisture: avoid waterlogging the soil!

How to combat common clematis diseases?

Large-flowered hybrid varieties are more susceptible to diseases than others. They are much more fragile than small-flowered varieties. The main problem with clematis is caused by a fungus, Ascochyta clematidina, which can devastate a plant in just 24 hours! Your clematis may have seemed healthy and vigorous, even about to bloom, but suddenly its leaves start drying out! Before you can react, it’s already completely wilted… This devastating disease prevents sap circulation, causing tissue death. Cut the plant at the base of the stems, a few centimetres below the soil (as the fungus lives on the surface), and replace the soil around the stems to a depth of several centimetres with healthy, uncontaminated substrate. The plant may regrow from the base. Limit watering: moisture encourages this disease.

Clematis are susceptible to gastropods (slugs and snails), which happily nibble on young shoots! You can protect newly planted clematis by spreading ash or wood chips around the base as a barrier. They can also be attacked by aphids. If you notice curled, sticky leaves, spray with black soap or a pyrethrum-based solution.

Best practices for pruning your clematis

Pruning your clematis will result in a well-branched plant with a more compact habit and will encourage flowering (provided it’s done at the right time!). First and foremost, disinfect your secateurs to avoid spreading diseases from one clematis to another. When working on affected plants, discard the stems and leaves you cut.

Prune early-flowering varieties and evergreen varieties in late spring, around May, once flowering has finished. Carry out very light pruning. If you prune too early, between autumn and early spring, you risk cutting branches that would bear flowers, thus limiting flowering! These varieties can even go without pruning.

For other varieties, later-flowering and large-flowered, prune before regrowth begins, between February and March. You can prune them more severely! Don’t hesitate to cut back every other branch to 30 or 40 centimetres above the ground. Also remove dead shoots. A second pruning after flowering is possible.

→ Learn more in our advice sheet: Why isn’t my clematis flowering? and in our tutorial: winter pruning of clematis.

The ‘White Pearl’ clematis!

Clematis Propagation Techniques

You can propagate your clematis by taking cuttings or by layering. We recommend taking cuttings as the simplest method. As for sowing, it’s tricky to achieve, and the seeds can sometimes take a very long time to germinate.

Introduction to propagating clematis from cuttings

You can take cuttings from clematis in late spring, in June or July.

• Start by preparing a pot: place a layer of gravel or clay pebbles at the bottom for drainage, then fill the pot with a mix of compost and sand.
• Next, cut a stem about 15 cm long using a knife or secateurs.
• Remove any leaves at the base of the stem, if present.
• Leave only a few leaves on the cutting, then plant it in the pot and firm the soil around the stem.
• Water and cover the pot with clear plastic or a cut plastic bottle to maintain a humid atmosphere.
• Place your pot under a cold frame, away from direct sunlight.

You’ll need to wait until the following spring to plant the clematis in the ground.

Layering clematis

You can propagate clematis by layering. This technique allows you to quickly obtain new plants. Carry this out in summer, around August. Layering is done by bending down woody stems.

Layering clematis is best done in a pot. To make the process easier, choose a fairly wide pot (at least 15 cm in diameter).

• Place a layer of gravel at the bottom for drainage, then fill it with compost.
• Choose a long stem, trim the leaves, keeping only those at the tip of the branch.
• Make a small incision in the bark on the section you’ll bury.
• Then, place it in the soil and cover with compost.
• Lift the tip of the stem and support it vertically with a stake.
• Firm the soil and water.

To learn more, read our practical guide on propagating clematis from cuttings.

Clematis Companions: General Advice

Clematis pair wonderfully with roses, whether climbing or shrub varieties. Together, they create a romantic atmosphere, full of softness and delicacy. Many varieties offer pastel blooms in shades of pink, white or mauve. Discover Clematis montana ‘Mayleen’: in spring it bears a multitude of soft pink flowers, bringing great charm to the garden. You could also pair the white flowers of clematis ‘Summersnow’ with the pale pink blooms of climbing rose ‘Coral Dawn’.

In all cases, we recommend planting other perennials around clematis: they’ll protect the base from sun and help keep the soil cool. Take the opportunity to plant some hardy geraniums, for example. If your clematis base becomes bare or lacks flowers, they’ll add colour without fail!

Don’t hesitate to mix different clematis varieties! Explore our collections. You can combine them with other climbers like akebias or jasmines.

Let them climb your trees and shrubs… If you grew them for their decorative foliage, they’ll now have the added interest of being covered in a multitude of starry flowers! You could also train them up fruit trees, for example by planting a clematis montana at the base of an apple or cherry tree.

The most compact varieties adapt perfectly to container growing. They’ll add colour to your patios and balconies! Plant them in large pots with some perennials or bulbs, like hyacinths, anthemis or verbenas. If you have a shady spot, combine your clematis with the decorative foliage of ivies or ferns.

Herbaceous clematis integrate very easily into flower beds. You could pair Clematis heracleifolia with the light foliage of ornamental grasses and aster flowers.

Clematis ‘Snow queen’ and tulip ‘Ballade’! (Copyright MAP Clive Nichols)

For more specific pairing ideas in different situations, see our advice: Clematis – 7 successful pairing ideas and Pairing herbaceous clematis.