Clematis (The Aristocrats of Climbers)

Newly planted Clematis require two or three years to become properly established and to show their full beauty in both colour and form. Intensity of colours can vary from season to season, nature and character of the soil will have an influence.

Pruning:

All Clematis will grow and flower freely (if somewhat untidily) with no pruning. All varieties will be happy if pruned to within one metre from the ground each winter. However, some varieties such as Bees Jubilee, Lincoln Star and Nelly Moser will flower earlier if you only remove dead wood and shorten the remaining vines back to some stron buds.

To quote from Fisk’s “The Queen of Climbers” book-

Clematis that flower in the early part of the year do so on the previous years ripened wood and therefore need no pruning. Clematis that flower in the later half of the year do so on young wood that has been produced the same season and therefore needs hard pruning every year.

How to plant:

Dig a hole at least 40cm deep by 30cm wide. Fill with leaf mould or peat, two parts to one part of loam, adding one tablespoon of lime and half a tablespoon of blood and bone manure. Plant with the top of the root ball 10cm below ground level, (some people like to plant even deeper) leave a depression for the first six months. Protect from ground draft and ensure that the root ball does not dry out. Protect from slugs and snails. Clematis grown by Sunshine Environmentals hav been protected from fungal attack ti the roots by Trichoperma, we advise a top-up application when planting. 

Where to grow:

Clematis can be grown in practically any way to suit your own requirements. They may be trained on walls, on wire, on trellis, on pergolas or poles similar to roses allowing them to ramble over banks/walls or to be grown over trees and hedges. Generally they like a sunny position but this is not essential. Positions facing east or west are suitable for all varieties while many stronger varieties grow and flower very successfully facing south.

Turn them into ‘flowering shrubs’ for any boarder. Cylinders of green plastic garden wire netting, roughly 50-60cm in diameter by one metre long. Being supported five centimetres off the ground on a stout post provides ideal support and gives you a mound of flowers. For this treatment Lincoln Star, Ernest Markham, Nelly Moser and Hagly Hybrid are recommended. 

How to grow: 

Whilst the Clematis is a lover of sunshine and fresh air the roots prefer a cool and shaded position. They naturally grow in competition with other plants and roots, they succeed when the roots are given protection. They may be planted close to trees and shrubs provided a little care is taken until they become established. Often an ideal position is alongside a paved walkway where the ideal cool root condition can be found. When planting in the open or in any position without natural shade for the roots, low growing shrubs, perennials or bedding plants will all serve the same purpose. Old brick or paving stones around the plant are excellent for keeping the roots cool.

Pruning:

Pruning is dependant on the variety and can be divided into three groups.

Group one - Contains the evergreen and early flowering species types, the alpine and macropetala and montana types. Clematis in this group flower mainly in early spring. The only pruning is to remove all dead and weak stems after flowering. More severe pruning can be done if required to encourage bushness or to control the size of the plant.

Group two - Clematis are the early - mid season large flowering hybrid types. Clematis in this group flower mainly from late spring to autumn. They require the removal of all dead and weak stems, shortening of the remaining stems by 15-20cm to a strong pair of leaf axil buds.

Group three - Contains the late flowering large flowered hybrid types which flower from mid summer onwards on new stems each year. This group requires major pruning with all stems being removed in late winter. Remove all top growth down to a pair of strong buds just above the base  of each stem.

Alice Fisk - (2) Wisteria blue flowers, dark brown stamens, pointed tepals with crenulated edges. Flowers spring and autumn reaching a height of 2.5m.

Barbara Jackman - (2) Mauve flowers 12-15cm. Petunia coloured bar and yellow anthers. Late spring to early summer reaching a height of 2.5-3m.

Bees Jubilee - (2) Wide flowers, mauve pink tepals, deeper central bar. Brownish anthers. Spring to late summer reaching 2.5m.

Dr Ruppel - (2) Wide deep rose pink tepals with deeper central bar. Compact and free flowering, spring and summer reaching 2.5m.

Dutchess of Edinburgh - (2) Double white flowers, several rows of green outer tepals. Early summer to autumn reaching 2.5m.

Elsa Spath - (2) Rounded flower, mid blue tepals, darker when emerging, red anthers. Free flowering spring to autumn reaching 2.5m.

Ernest Markham - (2) Magenta roundish flowers, crimpled edges on tepals, golden anthers. Mid summer to autumn reaching a height of 3-4m.

Gypsy Queen - (3) Deep velvety violet-purple tepals, dark red anthers. Early summer and late in profusion reaching 3m.

Hagley Hybrid - (3) Soft pink flowers with dark red anthers. Free flowering early to late summer reaching 2.5m.

Haku Ookan - (2) Violet blue with yellow stamens, overlapping pointed tepals. Late spring and summer reaching 2.5m.

Henryl - (2) White flowers 15-20cm across, contrasting chocolate brown anthers. Mid summer to autumn reaching 3.5m.

H.F.Young - (2) Wedgewood blue with pale yellow anthers. Most compact, free flowering. Early and late summer reaching 2m.

Honora - (3) Rich purple tepals and deep purple-red anthers. Free flowering summer to autumn reaching 3-4m.

Horn of Plenty - (2) rosy mauve overlapping tepals with deeper  central bar, crimpled edges, red anthers. Late spring and summer.

Kathleen Dunford - (2) Semi-double and single pointed purplish-pink tepals, deep red anthers. Early summer and autumn reaching 2.5m.

Lady Betty Balfour - (3) Wide flowers overlapping purple-blue tepals, yellow anthers. Late summer to autumn reaching 3-5m.

Lawsoniana - (2) Star-like flowers, pointedlavendar blue tepals, tinted rosy pink, chocolate anthers. Early to late summer reaching 3m.

Lord Neville - (2) Deep blue flowers, overlapping wavy edged tepals, deep red anthers. Early and late summer reaching a height of 2.5-3m.

Louise Rowe - (2) Pale mauve to nearly white tepals, cream anthers. Double, semi double and single. Early to late summer reaching 2.5m.

Marie Boisselot - (2) Rounded flowers of overlapping creamy-white tepals. Flowering early summer to late autumn reaching 3.5m.

Miss Bateman - (2) Full rounded clear white flowers with red anthers, slightly violet scented. Free flowering spring to autumn reaching 2m.

Mrs P.B Truax - (2) Flowers are a pretty periwinkle blue with pale yellow anthers. Very early spring and late summer reaching 2m.

Multi Blue - (2) Deep navy blue outter tepals, blue or reddish-purple inner tepals forming central tuft. Early summer to autumn reaching 2.5m.

Nelly Moser - (2) Wide flowers with pale mauve pointed tepals and red anthers. Late spring to autumn reaching between 2.5-3.5m.

Prince Charles - (3) Compact flowers with mauve-blue tepals. Free flowering mid summer to early autumn reaching 2.5m.

Richard Pennell - (2) Rich purple blue flowers, golden anthers, overlapping tepals. Late spring to early autumn reaching 2.5-3.5m.

Romantika - (3) Dark violet purple flowers 7-10cm wide, yellow anthers. Best in sunny position with alight background. All summer flower.

Rouge Cardinal - (3) Rounded flowers, velvety crimson tepals with surface sheen, brownish-red anthers. Mid summer to autumn reaching 3m.

Scartho Gem - (2) Pretty pink overlapping wavy edge tepals, deep central band, pinkish brown anthers. Early and late summer reaching 2.5m.

Sir Garnet Woseley - (2) Rounded flowers, mauve blue tepals, red anthers. Earliest flowering, spring through till late summer reaching a height of 2.5m.

The President - (2) Rich blue-purple pointed tepals and dark red anthers. Compact habit. Long flowering spring to autumn reaching 3m.

Veronicas Choice - (2) Pale mauve-lavendar tepals with a hint of pink. Flowering doubles, early summer and single late summer reaching 2m. 

Ville De Lyon - (3) Rounded flowers, bright crimson tepals, deep pink wide central bar, yellow anthers. Early summer to autumn.

Violet Elizabeth - (3) Double, delicate mauve pink in summer with single flowers late in the season. Early summer to autumn reaching a height of 2.5m.

Vyvyan Pennell - (2) Lilac mauve with a greenish tinge and cream anthers. Early flowering, double blooms later singles. All summer reaching 2.5m.  

W.E Gladstone - (2) Large pale blue flowers with red anthers. Flowering summer to early autumn reaching a height of 3.5m.

Will Goodwin - (2) Wide flowers, clear mid blue overlapping pointed tepals with yellow anthers. Flowering summer to autumn reaching a height of 3m.

William Keay - (2) Flowers rich in carmine shade mauve, brown stamens. Flowering spring to summer reaching a height of 4m.

William Kennet - (2) Rounded pale lavendar-blue flowers with overlapping pointed tepals and dark red anthers. Floweribg early to late summer reaching a height of 3m.

W.S Callick - (3) Soft wine red pointed tepals with dark stamens. They flower all summer reaching a height of 4m.