The showy flowers aren’t the only cool thing about
clematis. They also attractive seed heads that last for months and add
additional seasons of interest. Clematis make excellent cut flowers and their
seed heads are great to use in dried arrangements.
Some clematis are more shrubby than vining; and others
have a running habit that makes them a good groundcover option. Some of the
climbing vines are aggressive spreaders like the invasive ‘Sweet Autumn’
Clematis, while most others are slow-growing and stay relatively small—making
them perfect for a container.
There are springtime bloomers; while others bloom late in
the summer and into fall.
There are over 200 different species of clematis and
hundreds of different cultivars. The purple ‘Jackmanii’ is the best-known
clematis of all time. Also popular is the pink-and-white ‘Nelly Moser’ and the
new ‘Taiga,’ with its dramatic green center.
There is a native Clematis virginiana,
known commonly as Virgin’s Bower, that looks very similar to ‘Sweet Autumn’
Clematis. There is also Clematis viorna with
bell-shaped blooms that is native to the southeastern U.S.
Clematis are said to demanding to grow and harder to
prune, but their needs are actually fairly simple. Clematis want their roots
kept moist and their heads in the sun. (One exception to that rule is the
pastel-flowering clematis, which will fade in strong afternoon sun.)
Don’t worry. You won’t kill it by pruning at the wrong
time. If you make a pruning mistake, you may deprive yourself of flowers for a
season, but you are still likely to get a few blooms.
The early spring time bloomers of Clematis Group 1 bloom
on old wood and need only pruning to reduce their size or to remove damaged
branches.
In Group 2 are the clematis that bloom in early summer. These
bloom on both old and new wood. Most of the large-flowered hybrids are in this
group. Prune them in the spring before new growth begins. Make your cuts just
above the healthiest-looking buds. Next, cut out any tangles and damaged wood.
In Group 3 are clematis that flower from mid-summer well
into fall. They bloom only on new wood and can be cut back hard in the spring
to within 6 inches of the ground.
Clematis are heavy feeders need to be fertilizes regularly
during the growing season, but remember to stop when they begin to bloom.
Classic companion plants for clematis include roses,
evergreens, crape myrtles, and even other vines.
For more about Clematis, see these answers to specific question:
How tall do Clematis grow? > https://plantaddicts.com/how-
How do I prune Clematis? >https://plantaddicts.com/
Do Clematis need a trellis? > https://plantaddicts.com/do-
Clematis - You Can Grow That!
The video was produced
by Washington Gardener Magazine.
Visuals by Taylor
Calavetinos
Audio by Kathy Jentz
➤ If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up
and subscribe to our Youtube
channel (thank you!)
➤Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new
videos are out
➤ FIND Washington Gardener Magazine ONLINE
~ Facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine
~ Podcast: GardenDC on Spotify, Apple, etc.
PIN THIS FOR LATER:
No comments:
Post a Comment