This beautiful introduction has excellent golden foliage covered with blue flowers in late spring, followed by pretty seed heads in late summer. A bright feature for fence or trellis in a sunny spot where the ground below can be shaded to keep roots cool. Prefers well-drained soils.
One of the hardiest and easiest to grow, this Clematis flowers on growth produced the previous year. To preserve flower buds prune out vines with bare stems as soon as possible just after the flowers fade. If you prune hard later than June, you risk removing new growth that would have produced flowers the following spring.
Vines with a significant number of bare stems will require a rejuvenation by cutting the whole plant to the ground just after flowers fade in late May. The vines will grow back right away with bright chartreuse foliage, but there will not be blooms the following spring. Future years should bring beautiful blooms with minimal regular pruning maintenance.
The best time to plant clematis is spring, summer, or early fall in a location of 5-6 hours of sunlight.
Clematis roots are long and run deep and like it cool and damp, but not soggy. Plant annuals, perennials, or a low-growing shrub to shade roots, and mulch the ground around the base of the clematis to keep the soil and roots cool and moist.
Stake vine toward a trellis to train the plant to its permanent support.
Keep your clematis well watered, do not let it dry out. In years to come always soak once a week in dry weather.
Feed twice a year with organic fertilizer or compost.
Prune your clematis the first Spring after planting, back to 10-12″. This is very important to get your plant off to low branching and heavier flowering over the whole clematis vine.
With proper care, clematis vines will provide enjoyment for many years!
• Grow on all types of fences and stone walls.
• Train to grow up a tree trunk, tree stumps or rock pile.
• Use as a ground cover.
• Frame openings around porches and other entrances.
• Grow up unsightly utility and light poles.
• Screen unwanted views.
• Grow along with another climbing vine.
• Grow clematis in a container on a trellis or other support.
• Clematis can be planted in the garden most any month the soil can be worked up.
• An established clematis will live for years with normal care.