Clematis, assorted varieties

• Type: perennial climber, assorted varieties
• Botanical name: Clematis
• Height and spread: usually 2–3 m × 1 m, depends on variety
• Flowering: June–September depending on variety; white, pink, red, purple or blue flowers
• Light: sun or partial shade, roots in shade
• Soil: fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline
• Hardiness: good when planted deep, zone 4–5 (depends on variety)
• Use: trellises, pergolas, fences, walls, trees and shrubs, large container
• Size: potted plant, assorted varieties

Planting. Dig a hole about 50 × 50 cm and fill it with fertile, compost-rich soil. Plant 8–10 cm deeper than the plant grew in its pot – new shoots will then come up even if the tops freeze or wilt. Put the support in place at planting.

Watering and feeding. Water deeply but not often (about 10 L per plant), especially in drought. Feed with a balanced fertiliser in spring and early summer, and lime acid soil lightly. Mulch the root area or shade it with low perennials.

Care. Pruning depends on the variety: late-summer flowering types (pruning group 3) are cut back to 20–40 cm in early spring; early large-flowered hybrids (group 2) are pruned only lightly. Tie young shoots to the support.

Gardener's tip. If the variety is unknown, note in the first year when and on which shoots it flowers – this tells you the right pruning group. Mound compost or peat around the base for winter.