As gardeners sit up for the fun of spring, we regularly flip to pruning to fulfill our inexperienced thumbs. Figuring out when and how one can prune clematis (Clematis spp. and cvs., Zones 4–11) is commonly shrouded in confusion. Nevertheless, arming your self with a couple of fundamental rules will make the decision-making course of a lot simpler.
Clematis are divided into three pruning teams primarily based on bloom time and whether or not the flowers are produced on previous wooden (development from the earlier 12 months) or on new wooden (development from the present season). Determining which group a plant falls into might be your first activity.
Group 1 – Spring Blooming Clematis that Want Little or No Pruning
These are the earliest blooming clematis that strut their flower energy in early spring. There are each evergreen and deciduous sorts, and all flower on previous development from the earlier 12 months. These are sometimes vigorous growers, and I discover they’re most lovely if left to twine their approach by way of the branches of a shrub or a small flowering tree. If sited correctly, pruning is mostly pointless. Nevertheless, if area is proscribed and development have to be contained, pruning must be performed as quickly because the plant has completed flowering. This permits ample time for brand new development to develop, together with the flower buds that can bloom the next 12 months.
Examples of Group 1 clematis:
- Alpine clematis (Clematis alpina, Zones 4–9)
- Evergreen clematis (C. armandii, Zones 7–9)
- Yellow bell clematis (C. chiisanensis and cvs., Zones 5–9)
- Winter clematis (C. cirrhosa, Zones 7–9)
- Japanese clematis (C. japonica, Zones 6-9)
- Spring-flowering hybrids corresponding to Marta ™ clematis (C. ‘Evipo071’, Zones 4–9)
- Mountain clematis (C. montana, Zones 6–9)
Group 2 – Repeatedly Blooming Clematis Pruned Instantly After Flowering
Just like the clematis in Group 1, these large-flowered cultivars bloom on previous wooden. For the plant to flower efficiently, many of the development from the earlier 12 months have to be left intact. These large-flowered beauties, which embrace double and semi double cultivars, profit from mild pruning instantly after flowering. For those who add just a little supplemental fertilizer after pruning, you’ll be rewarded with new development and a little bit of reblooming later within the season.
For Teams 1 and a couple of it’s tremendous to take away useless or weak stems earlier than the buds start breaking in late winter to early spring. It is usually useful to chop any stems suggestions that aren’t alive again to a wholesome pair of buds.
Examples of Group 2 clematis:
- Ardour flower clematis (Clematis florida and cvs., Zones 6–9)
- Massive-flowed clematis (C. patens and cvs., Zones 6–9)
Group 3 – Midsummer and Late Summer season Clematis to Lower Again Yearly
Completely flowering on new wooden fashioned by the present season’s development, this group advantages from an aggressive yearly chop roughly 12 inches or much less above soil degree. In case you are merely making an attempt to maintain the plant’s measurement throughout the parameters of your trellis or assist system, high development may be reduce to a wholesome pair of buds as you deem match. Group 3 clematises will flower if left unpruned, however the result’s usually a plant that’s naked on the base with flowers nicely above an gratifying viewing top.
Different sorts inside this group massive embrace:
- Chinese language clematis (C. chinensis, Zones 6–9)
- Floor clematis (C. recta, Zones 3–9)
- Pitcher’s clematis (C. pitcheri, Zones 5–9)
- Texas clematis (Clematis texensis, Zones 4–8)
- Vasevine or leatherflower (C. viorna, Zones 4–9)
- Italian clematis (C. viticella, Zones 4–8)
- And numerous hybrids
Group 3 – Non-Climbing Clematis Sorts
Non-climbing clematis lack the modified leaf petioles that permit most clematis to climb. Solitary clematis (Clematis integrifolia, Zones 3-7) grows from under floor annually and previous stems don’t normally stay viable. Prune it as you’d every other herbaceous perennial and take away all canes at floor degree yearly.
Shrub clematis, additionally referred to as tube clematis (C. heracleifolia, Zones 3-8) has a development behavior much like that of a small shrub. The canes or stems can change into fairly thick and woody, permitting the plant to develop 2 to three ft tall and extensive. This clematis may be pruned to the bottom yearly, nevertheless it seems to be most attention-grabbing if a shrublike type is developed and maintained.
Extra on Pruning Clematis
You will discover an extended checklist of clematis cultivars and their pruning teams right here: What Group is My Clematis
For a traditional clematis pruning article from the High quality Gardening archives, observe this hyperlink: Pruning Clematis
– Adam Glas is a backyard supervisor and rosarian on the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore School in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.
