The document discusses important lessons for gardening with clematis, including considering bloom time when choosing varieties, performing the critical first pruning to encourage root growth, and keeping clematis roots cool with mulch and companion plants. Common mistakes are also outlined, such as planting incompatible pruning types together or placing clematis at the base of trees.

1. Gardening with Clematis
Lessons Learned
Presented by Marilyn Glenn

2. What usually drives our first
choice of a clematis to plant?
 Color Preference
 Memories

4. Bloom Time – a primary consideration
 Winter
“clematis armandii”
Evergreen – no pruning; prune after
bloom as needed to manage size
 Autumn
“clematis paniculata”

6. Bloom Time – a primary consideration
 Spring
“Early small-flowered”
- Good for Beginners *
- Alpinas, Macropetalas,
Montanas
- No pruning required

9. Bloom Time – a primary consideration
 Spring
“Early large-flowered”
- most popular & most challenging to establish
- most prone to „wilt‟
- most challenging to prune – bloom on year old
wood, prune after bloom as needed;
unsightly foliage in winter
- the most suitable for containers; particularly
the doubles *

18. Bloom Time – a primary consideration
 Summer
“Late small-flowered”
- Good for Beginners *
- Integrifolias, Texensis, Viticellas & Others
- easiest to grow
- least susceptible to „wilt‟
- extended bloom time (i.e. up to 2 months
and even into fall)
- provide support structure, other plants to
scramble onto and lots of room
- prune hard in late fall or early spring

19. Summer - “Late small-flowered”
 Integrifolias
- Non-climbing
- Least well known
- Can be divided as a perennial
- Do not take up a lot of space

26. Summer - “Late small-flowered”
 Texensis
- Nodding or upstanding tulip shaped
flowers
- Derive from a wild species native to
Texas
- Characteristic red color in most cultivars
- Grows vigorously - can be a “space hog”

28. Summer - “Late small-flowered”
 Viticellas
- Produce an abundance of flowers on a
substantial plant
- Excellent over arbors, arches and through
climbing roses
- Great diversity of colors in cultivars
- Prune hard in winter, no unsightly foliage
- Not suitable for containers

35. Bloom Time – a primary consideration
 Summer
“Late large-flowered”
- Good for Beginners *
- prune hard in late fall or early spring
- can sometimes suffer from mildew
“New patio clematis”
- Ray Evison is the hybridizer
- good in containers

43. 1st Most Important Lesson to Learn
 “The First Pruning”
- Is when you bring the new clematis home
- Cut to the lowest pair of leaf buds on each
stem
- If bloom buds are formed, prune as soon
after bloom as possible
- You are forcing growth into the roots and
promoting new stems to develop

45. 2nd Most Important Lesson to Learn
 “Keep your clematis roots cool”
- Provide lot‟s of water (especially in July &
August)
- Shade the roots with companion plants
(i.e. roses, shrubs and perennials)
- cover with mulch or even flat stones to
keep water evaporation down

46. Common Mistakes to Avoid with Clematis
 Avoid planting two different pruning types
together (i.e. Duchess of Edinburgh with
Duchess of Albany)
 Never plant two clematis plants in the same
hole (one will survive at the expense of the
other)
 Avoid planting any clematis at the base of a
tree
- a “water hog” tree will kill the clematis
- a “space hog” clematis could kill the tree

47. Common Mistakes to Avoid with Clematis
 Make sure you are able to provide water with
ease
 When „wilt‟ strikes
- immediately cut the stems back to the
lowest set of unaffected buds
- try moving the clematis to a new location
- act on the “3 strikes and your out” rule

48. Questions about Growing Clematis