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As one of the best trailing plants you can add to your landscape, Clematis adds dazzling color and panache to any garden setting, be it large, small, formal or casual. This ornamental climber is hardy and easy to grow, and the fact that it’s versatile enough to fit into any landscaping design means that Clematis Vines will always be a gardener’s best friend. Even beginners will be thrilled with Clematis since they are so easy to grow and fairly low maintenance.
There are numerous species, hybrids and cultivars of Clematis worldwide, exhibiting vibrant blooms in a rainbow of shades. These four are the best performing and most gorgeous:
- Jackmanii Clematis is an absolute superstar with its flashy blossoms, large, delicately perfumed and displaying rich shades of violet and purple.
- The stunning Niobe Clematis will wow you not once, but twice, with a bold display of brilliant magenta blooms so fragrant and fresh they’ll take your breath away.
- Blooming all summer long, Henryi Clematis shows off uniquely shaped flowers, generous and snowy white against a bed of lush emerald green foliage.
- The Armandii Clematis is an evergreen vine that’s impressive whether in bloom or not. Early in spring, clusters of ivory-colored flowers begin blanketing this vine’s luxuriant foliage, and the air is perfumed with a lovely fragrance!
Clematis vines may be grown against a fence, on a trellis or arbor or as a canopy for your patio, providing an irresistible vine-shaded retreat that will transform your outdoor living space into a romantic vacation spot in some faraway exotic land. Here’s what you’ll need to know:
- Site Selection – Clematis vines can live for decades, so it’s important to pick a site both you and your vine will be happy with for the long term. Most varieties prefer full sun or a minimum of 6 hours of good bright sunshine everyday.
- Soil – These climbers may like their heads in the sun, but their roots should be firmly planted in a well-drained soil rich in organic matter such as compost or rotting manure.
- Watering – During the first growing season, keep the soil moist at all times, but never waterlogged. Once established, the Clematis Vine will only need to be watered during extended dry spells.
- Fertilizing – These flowering vines require some serious feeding and will benefit from a good organic fertilizing program. When spring growth appears, sprinkle about 2 inches of rotted manure over the topsoil. Feed again after flowering has finished with bone and blood meals. During the summer, saturate the soil monthly with a fish emulsion solution.
- Pruning – To encourage vertical growth, trim the horizontal branches back to just one pair of leaves. To encourage horizontal growth, snip off the vertical stem just above a node at the desired height.
Follow these tips to enjoy an abundance of vibrant color and sweet fragrance in your garden with flowering clematis vines.
Related articles
- Watching Our Clematis Growing Yearly (backyardgardeningtips.com)
- Clematis favorites for Northwest gardeners (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
- Trim clematis and prune roses (telegraph.co.uk)
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