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Daily care and tips for Clematis

When and how should you plant a clematis?

Plant preferably in autumn or spring, avoiding frost and extreme heat. Dig a wide hole enriched with compost and, above all, bury the crown 5 to 8 cm below the surface: this step, specific to clematis, encourages new shoots to grow from the base and reduces wilting. Water generously at planting, then regularly during the first year, and mulch around the base.

How should I prune a clematis, and can I cut it back to the ground?

Pruning depends on the variety group. Late-flowering clematis (late summer) are cut back hard, to 30–50 cm above the ground, in late winter. Large-flowered spring varieties are lightly pruned just after flowering. Early-flowering varieties require very little pruning. Only late-flowering varieties should therefore be cut back to the base: doing so to an early-flowering variety would remove that year’s flowers.

What support should I choose for a clematis to climb?

Clematis climbs by winding its leaf stalks (petioles) around slender supports. Give it a trellis, wire mesh, taut wires or an arch: it won't cling to a smooth wall on its own. Guide and loosely tie the young stems during the first few weeks, until they take hold.

Should I use ericaceous compost or potting soil for a clematis?

Clematis n'does not need ericaceous compost: it prefers neutral to slightly alkaline soil that is cool, rich, and well drained. When planting, mix the garden soil with compost or good-quality planting mix. In pots, use a quality potting mix with added compost and water regularly, as the growing medium dries out faster.

How to choose a clematis at Plant and Stories?

Choose f'irst according to the colour and flowering period you want, then according to the location (full sun or partial shade, pot or open ground). For a long flowering season, pair an early variety with a late one. Our clematis are delivered in pots, ready to climb, and selected from European growers for their vigour and flowering. Fast, careful delivery.

Everything you need to know about Clematis

Where should you plant a clematis: in the sun or in the shade?

Clematis likes to have its head in the sun and its feet in the shade. Plant it where the foliage and flowers will get plenty of light (at least 5 to 6 hours of sun), but protect the roots from heat: a roof tile, a flat stone, mulch, or a low-growing perennial at the base is all it takes. Overheating at the base is the most common cause of clematis failing to thrive.

When does a clematis bloom?

It depends on the variety: early-flowering clematis bloom as early as April–May, large-flowered varieties such as 'Nelly Moser' or 'The President' in May–June and sometimes a second time in late summer, while late-flowering varieties (such as 'Ville de Lyon', 'Étoile Violette') bloom from July until the first frosts. By combining several groups, you can enjoy flowers for almost the entire growing season.

Why isn’t my clematis flowering?

Three main causes: not enough sunlight on the above-ground parts, pruning that’s inappropriate for the variety’s pruning group (the stems bearing buds were cut off), or a base that’s too dry and hot. Check the 'exposure, identify your clematis’s pruning group, and mulch around the base to keep it cool. Applying a potash-rich fertilizer in spring can also encourage it to flower again.

Is clematis toxic to animals?

Clematis is mildly toxic: its sap contains protoanemonin, which can cause mouth irritation and mild digestive upset if 'ingested by a dog or cat, as well as skin irritation when handled. The risk remains low because its bitter taste deters them, but it is best to prevent pets from 'chewing on it.

What plant should I put at the base of a clematis?

To keep its roots cool and shaded, plant low-growing perennials or ground cover at its base: hardy geraniums, heucheras, catmints or small shrubs. They shade the roots while filling in the often-bare base of the clematis. It also pairs beautifully with a climbing rose, which serves as a living support.

Clematis

Clematis is an easy-to-grow flowering climber: plant it with its head in the sun and its feet in the shade, in cool, well-drained soil, against a slender support (trellis, wire mesh, tensioned wire). Hardy and prolific, it produces large, colourful flowers from spring to autumn, depending on the variety.

The essentials at a glance:

  • ☀️ Exposure: head in the sun, feet in the shade
  • 🌸 Flowering: large flowers, from spring to autumn depending on the variety
  • 🧗 Growth habit: climbing, clings to a slender support on its own
  • ❄️ Hardiness: hardy, down to around -20 °C
  • ✂️ Pruning: depends on the group (early-flowering, large-flowered, late-flowering)
  • 🪴 Uses: pergola, trellis, fence, arch, large pot

Clematis: the garden's star climber with large flowers

Clematis (Clematis) is undoubtedly the most spectacular of flowering climbers: its large, star-shaped flowers, ranging from pure white to deep purple, with pink, red and blue in between, adorn walls, pergolas and trellises for months. Our collection brings together a wide range of large-flowered clematis, from great classics such as 'Nelly Moser', 'The President' and 'Ville de Lyon' to remontant and bicoloured varieties, all hardy and easy to grow.

How to plant and care for clematis

The secret to clematis lies in one rule: head in the sun and feet in the shade. Plant it in cool, rich, well-drained soil, burying the crown 5 to 8 cm below the surface to encourage new shoots and prevent wilt. Give it a slender support that its leaf stalks can cling to on their own. Pruning depends on the variety's group: late-flowering clematis should be cut back hard at the end of winter, while large-flowered spring varieties should be lightly pruned after flowering.

Buy your clematis from Plant and Stories

On a pergola, fence or paired with a climbing rose, clematis creates unmatched floral displays. Our clematis, sourced from European growers and delivered in pots, ready to climb, are available in a wide range of varieties and colours. Discover our full range of climbing plants too. For more information, see our complete guide: Clematis: planting, pruning (the 3 groups) and care.

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