Clematis is rightly often known as the queen of the vines for its regal efficiency within the backyard.
It fortunately scrambles up and over arbors, pergolas, and trellises, in addition to by way of different vegetation, creating stunning partitions of wealthy colour.
A carefree perennial, the hanging, star-like flowers bloom in shades of blue, pink, purple, crimson, white, and yellow from late winter into spring, summer time, and early autumn.
However not all kinds of this showy climber are chilly hardy, and lots of can profit from some preventative winter care.
With safety from freezing temperatures and laborious frosts, your vines will return with an abundance of flowers 12 months after 12 months.
Right here’s what’s to come back in our clematis winter care information:
Clematis Fundamentals
As a perennial, clematis are vigorous vines that return yearly, rising from the identical plant inventory.
Hardy in USDA Zones 3 to 9, there are some species which are even appropriate for rising in chilly Zone 2.
Nonetheless, there are each hardy and tender varieties obtainable, and never all will survive prolonged freezing temperatures.
For these residing in colder areas, winter hardiness is a vital attribute to have in mind when buying.
Clematis have three distinct blooming durations that correspond to their pruning teams, often known as Teams 1, 2, and three (aka Teams A, B, and C).
Figuring out what group your vegetation belong to is vital earlier than you begin any winter pruning.
Group 1
Group 1 are the early bloomers that flower on previous wooden in winter and early spring, and so they require no pruning.
Some species on this group can survive Zones 3 to five, though many received’t flower as profusely in these areas – air and soil temperatures often don’t heat up sufficient to coincide with their early bloom durations.
This group additionally consists of evergreen varieties, that are essentially the most inclined to frost harm.
Discover our favourite Group 1 cultivar choices right here.
Group 2
Group 2 varieties bloom vigorously in spring, with a lighter second flush in summer time. Flowers develop on previous and new wooden respectively.
These vegetation get solely a light-weight trim in early spring, then a tougher pruning in summer time to encourage a second set of flowers on new progress.
These vegetation can even underperform considerably in chilly zones, for a similar motive as Group 1s – they want heat temperatures early within the 12 months.
Sometimes, Group 2 varieties have two bloom durations, however in chilly areas that is typically decreased to only one set of flowers on previous wooden in early summer time.
Discover our favourite Group 2 cultivar choices right here.
Group 3
Group 3 vegetation flower in late spring, summer time, and into autumn, with flowers blooming fully on new wooden.
This group will get reduce laborious in winter, so frost harm to stems is negligible – a bonus in chilly zones.
Group 3 varieties even have essentially the most appropriate bloom interval for colder areas, with flowers blooming within the heat of early summer time proper up till first frost.
Listed below are a number of ideas you probably have current clematis vegetation and aren’t certain what group they belong to:
Group 1s typically develop thick, woody base stems measuring two to 6 inches throughout. They don’t get pruned, which permits them to develop bigger than these within the different two teams.