Tanya absolutely loves Clematis! As far as she is concerned, they are the Queen of the Vines. Vines don’t take up a lot of space and are great if you are looking for privacy and cover. They are perfect for fences or chain link as they grow vertically and quickly. Tanya has a few Clematis in her personal garden that grow rapidly—around 10 feet a year. The secret to this impressive growth is that she prunes them back down to the ground each year in April.
Tanya Olsen, third-generation owner of Royal City Nursery and a Professor in the Horticulture Apprenticeship program at Humber College, chats about the three different groups or types of Clematis, how and when to prune them, and what type of soil they need.
Watch our latest video on youtube to learn more or scroll to continue reading.
Thumbnail image with link to ‘Queen of the Vines: Clematis’ video on our youtube channel.
The Three Groups of Clematis
There are hundreds of cultivars of Clematis, with many different bloom shapes, growing habits and colours. These cultivars are then organized into large groups based on when and how they flower, and what type of pruning the vine requires. Left unpruned, Clematis can be a scruffy vine with flowers only at the top. By understanding their pruning needs, your Clematis will produce stronger growth and flower more appropriately.
Group 1: This group includes Clematis montana and many of the Alpine varieties. These Clematis flower in early spring because they flower on last year’s stems (old wood). When you prune, prune only to tidy the plant, removing branches that are dead, dying or broken. Do this just after they flower, around late May. If you prune them too early in the spring, you remove the flower buds, so the flowers skip a year, so timely pruning ensures they bloom beautifully next spring.
Group 2: These are the re-bloomers, including varieties such as Nelly Moser, Elodi, and Esme. Group 2 Clematis bloom twice—once in early to mid-May on short stems, and then again later in the summer, on the new growth produced that same growing season. Prune Group 2 Clematis after the first blooms are done, in late May, no more than half-way down. This allows them to rest and re-flower later in the season, providing another set of stunning blooms.
Group 3: These are the most popular! Varieties such as Linked Star, Jackmann, and Happy Jack Purple produce stunning blooms. Group 3 Clematis flower exclusively on new wood. If you’ve ever noticed your Clematis only flower at the top of your plant, it’s because they flower on new wood. To ensure blooms throughout the plant, prune them back to about 6 inches above ground in the springtime. This encourages new growth and results in blooms not just at the top but throughout the entire plant. Note: This pruning method is specific to Group 3 Clematis!
Planting Tips
When planting your Clematis, be aware that they do not like peat moss, as they don’t thrive in acidic soil. For Guelph growers, this is good news, as the soil is naturally more alkaline or limestone-based. Tanya recommends using a product called Dolomitic Lime. It’s a powder that you mix into your planting hole to ensure the soil is more alkaline.
Top Tip: Do not plant underneath a mature pine tree! Overtime, the needle drop can create an acidic soil.
By incorporating Clematis vines into your garden, you can add height, variety, colour, and even privacy to your outdoor space. Visit our garden centre to find these Clematis (and more), and let our team of experts help you choose the perfect fit for your garden. We have something for every gardener.
About Tanya Olsen:
Tanya is a third-generation garden centre owner and landscape designer.
Teaches Horticulture Apprenticeship at Humber College in Ontario, Canada.
Has a weekly segment on CTV news.
Has a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture.
YWCA Woman of Distinction.
About Royal City Nursery:
Guelph, Ontario’s only third-generation, full-service garden centre! We specialize in creating custom outdoor living spaces and unique solutions for all your garden, landscape, and seasonal decorating needs! At our new greenhouse, located between Guelph and Cambridge, we are the garden centre of choice for discerning homeowners, landscapers, and designers.
