If I had say clematis tutelage advice before buying a single clematis plant life , I would have certainly abandoned the leverage all in all . While I am broadly passably savvy about deciphering plant life care guides , even I have to admit that clematis care guide used to leave me rub my head in frustration .
I understood that there are three clematis groups . But was that 1 , 2 , 3 ? Or A , B , C ? How about species clematis ? And what group do herbaceous clematis belong to to ?
So I went back to my college days and revived an honest-to-god use : heater point leaning . If fastidiously making lists helped me process , clarify and remember complex selective information back then , there ’s no cause why it should fail me now .
One of my current clematis, ‘Hagley hybrid’ (Group 3)
If you ’re have trouble with parse the sometimes puzzling ( oftentimes contradictory ) data about how and when to prune your clematis , scroll down a bit for my simplified clematis cheat sheet .
But before I get bulge out , I have to give credit entry to one clematis pruning method that just made it click for me : the traffic igniter .
I first interpret about this method acting on the website ofSpring Hill Nurseries , an Ohio - based mail - order business that ’s been operating since 1849 . I was browsing their on-line catalogue ( clocking in at 195 type of clematis ! ) looking for an easy - to - maintenance - for natural endowment for a acquaintance and notice that their pruning groups were cross off asgreen , sensationalistic and cherry-red .
Not 1 , 2 , 3 .
Not A , B , C.
As a visual mortal ( a trait I suspect I share with many other gardener ) this simply made sense . And for someone who must have played hundred of biz ofGreen Light , Red Lightfrom the right old long time of four , this system was just homely merriment and easy to think back .
All you have to do is remember the traffic light system:
blood-red stand for STOP !
Yellow think slowly !
Green means GO !
One of my current clematis, ‘Hagley hybrid’ (Group 3)
Now let ’s add the word “ snip ” to it :
crimson signify STOP pruning ( do n’t crop it now )
Yellow means SLOW down your pruning ( recollect carefully before you prune anything )
Look for bloom time information on the clematis plant tag and you’ll know what group it is.
Green means GO ( go out front and prune to your marrow ’s content ) .
What type of clematis do I have?
Before you’re able to categorize your clematis , a bit of police detective work is in order . Some store - bought clematis have cleared labels that will say Group 1 , 2 or 3 . Some will indicate Group A , vitamin B or C. Others will just tell you when the plant blooms ( more on that below ) without mentioning any mathematical group , so it ’s up to you to plug into the dots .
If you ’ve just transitioned to a young garden that has clematis already growing , I indicate you apply the first twelvemonth to but watch over the plant without interfering in any way of life . When does it start blooming ? When is it done blooming ? What ’s left once the season is over ?
Then have a look at the cheat sheets below . Once you ’ve figured out the mathematical group , go back to your plant life and tie a thread or a piece of fancywork dental floss in the corresponding color ( crimson , yellow or greenish ) to the lower stems of the plant . That will serve as a visual reminder of what type of clematis you have when it come sentence to snip it next yr .
All the cultivars of Clematis montana (Alpine clematis) are Group 1.
Clematis cheat sheets
Group 1 (or Group A): Early-flowering clematis
inflorescence habit : They always bloom on last class ’s increase .
Bloom metre : Group 1 clematis start flowering in former winter and early springtime , sometimes as ahead of time as January . They continue flowering until April and are sure to be done flowering by June .
The look :
How to prune Group 1 clematis
Popular Group 1 clematis :
Clematis armandii
Clematis montana
Clematis ‘Tetrarose’ (Group 1)
Clematis cirrhosa
Clematis tangutica
Clematis macropetala
Passionflower clematis
Generally , whenever you find out “ mintage clematis ” you ’ll be contend with Group 1 clematis .
Popular Group 1 cultivars include :
‘ Tetrarose ’
A harder spring prune on a double-blooming clematis will turn it into a single blooming clematis.
‘ Elizabeth ’
‘ Alexander ’
‘ Pink Perfection ’
Trim the stems just above the highest strong bud.
‘ Spoonerii ’
‘ Pink lilt ’
‘ Joe Zary ’
Clematis ‘Still Waters’ (Group 2)
‘ Bodensee ’
Group 2 (or Group B): June-flowering clematis
anthesis habit :
Bloom time : Clematis in this group lead off flowering from mid - May and keep bloom until the close of July .
How to prune Group 2 clematis
There are a few pruning option , depending on what end leave you ’re after . But keep in idea that in Holy Order to get repetition inflorescence , you have to keep at leastsomeof the stems from last year .
alternative 1 : A arduous prune for one anthesis catamenia .
If you make up one’s mind for a heavy prune in fountain ( and cut down the old growth ) , these clematis wo n’t flower in June anymore . You ’ll get only one blooming period : later in the summer on fresh growth . In this case , these blossom will be abundant in August and September .
Clematis virginiana in bloom in early fall.
Option 2 : A loose prune for two unfolding periods .
If you only require to tidy up the industrial plant in spring , just remove damaged stems and stems that are not depict any new signs of growth . However , always geld down to something – in this case , cut right above the highest lot of axile bud that are depart to rise . These bud will turn into the big June flower that this group is identify for . The modest flowers will come up on new growth in recent summer .
you’re able to prune it lightly to train or maintain plant sizing once the second flush of bloom is spent .
The tangled stems of a Group 3 clematis in spring.
Popular Group 2 clematis :
‘ Royal Velvet ’
‘ Niobe ’
Don’t be afraid to cut Group 3 clematis to about 12-18 inches above the ground.
‘ Nelly Moser ’
‘ Arabella ’
‘ The President ’
New spring growth on the ‘Hagley Hybrid’ that was cut to the ground.
‘ Still Waters ’
‘ Sunset ’
‘ Hoshi - no - gypsy dancing ’
Clematis ‘Etoile Violette’ is a popular C. viticella variety.
‘ Cotton Candy Vancouver ’
‘ Little Mermaid ’
‘ Patricia Ann Fretwell ’
Clematis are always worth the trouble.
‘ Midori ’
‘ Crystal Fountain ’
Group 3 (or Group C): Late-flowering clematis
unfolding habit : They are very vigorous bloomers , always flowering on new growth .
Bloom time :
The look : Group 1 in general have smaller , frail flowers tightly group together ( especially if they ’re catch enough sun ) .
How to prune Group 3 clematis
What happens if you pass over pruning Group 3 clematis ?
They ’ll continue to turn from where they leave off the former twelvemonth . This means the fundament of the works will get bare and the novel flowers will only derive out at the top . depend on how high-pitched you ’ve trained it , you ’ll only get flowers agency above eye stage .
Popular Group 3 clematis :
Clematis integrifolia
Clematis heracleifolia
Clematis viticella
Clematis texenis
Herbaceous clematis are by and large Group 3 .
Popular Group 3 cultivars include :
‘ Etoile Violette ’
‘ Blue Ribbons ’
‘ Honora ’
‘ Princess Diana ’
‘ Perle d’Azur ’
‘ Polish Spirit ’
‘ Chatsworth ’
‘ Alba Luxurians ’
‘ Happy Diana ’
‘ Roguchi ’
I hope this simplified template takes the guessing employment out of when you should prune your clematis . As always , I urge a dyad of seasons of pure reflection to get on the right track . And call back that , in spite of their fragile appearing , clematis will bounce back even after a ill timed prune . It just might take a year for the plant life to recalibrate its bloom patterns .
