Clematis Care Instructions

Site Conditions

• Clematis like at least 4 hours of sun daily, and would do best in a partly sunny location. 
• Clematis do best when their root zone is cool and moist, so companion plantings or mulching is ideal. 
• Provide a support that will allow the plants tendrils to wrap around it. 

Care

• Pruning:

  • Group 1     Spring flowering:  This group flowers from buds that set last season.  Pruning is necessary only if the plant has overgrown its trellis or space is limited. Make sure to prune within one month after blooms fade to avoid pruning out next year’s blooms.

  • Group 2      Mid-season and some early flowering:  This group, including large-flowered hybrids, flowers on current season growth that develops from “old wood”.  In late winter, prune out spindly or dead shoots and prune remaining stems to the uppermost, fat green buds on each remaining shoot.  Older over-grown plants can be rejuvenated by cutting entire plant down to 12” from the ground.

  • Group 3    Late-season flowering:  This group generally flowers after June.  Blooms occur on current season’s growth.  Pruning consists of cutting back to about 12-24” from the ground just above the healthiest pair of buds in late winter or early spring. Jackmanii and Sweet Autumn are examples.

• Maintenance:
  • Fertilize in the spring with a high phosphorus fertilizer like Dr. Earth Bud and Bloom or Espoma Flowertone

Common Issues:

• Earwigs
• Powdery mildew
• Clematis wilt