Although I’m not the biggest fan of clematis flowers, my mom absolutely loves them and grows them in her backyard garden all the time. Now that old age has caught up to her, she often has me sow the seeds and water the clematis for her.
If you’re looking to grow clematis but don’t know where to begin or how to care for these delicate perennials, you’re in the right place!
Today, I’m going to walk you through a complete guide on how to keep your clematis blooming beautifully all season long. I’ll also share some essential pruning techniques and care tips to help you get the most out of your plant throughout the journey.
Let’s dive right into it, shall we?
Do Clematis Need Full Sun To Bloom?
If you didn’t already know, clematis unfortunately isn’t the kind of perennial that tolerates low-light conditions well.
Trust me, I once thought I was being a genius and decided to start growing a few clematis plants in my mom’s garage (yes, THE garage, you read that right). The weather was crazy and constantly changing that year, and I thought, let’s give these a head start. But… let’s just say… clematis don’t care about our genius plans if there’s no sun involved in it. Lesson learned.
Provide your clematis with a minimum of 6 hours of full sun on a daily basis. There are some varieties out there that can tolerate light shade, but I’d be careful.
My experience has taught me to only plant clematis in sunny spots. If you’re growing them in pots indoors, make sure they live next to a sunny window, not tucked away in a dim corner like mine were.
When & How Should You Prune Clematis?
If you know anything about clematis, you’ll know that they’re mainly grouped into three distinctive categories. Pruning incorrectly is the most common reason for poor blooming results, so you want to prune according to the clematis group you’re working with.
Group 1: Spring Bloomers
Spring blooming clematis varieties like clematis Montana and C. Alpina bloom on old wood, meaning they shouldn’t be hard pruned, or else next season’s blooms will suffer. Prune these lightly right after flowering to get rid of dead wood and promote healthy rejuvenation.
Group 2: Repeat Bloomers
Repeat clematis bloomers, such as Nelly Moser or The President, bloom on both old and new wood. Therefore, you want to prune these in two sessions. Do a light prune first in early spring and then once again after the first bloom.
Group 3: Summer/Fall Bloomers
Because summer/fall blooming clematis bloom on new growth, you’re free to cut these back hard in late winter or early spring. In this group, Jackmanii and Sweet Autumn Clematis are your best options.
How Often Should You Water Clematis? It’s Easy!
Clematis is the kind of perennial that prefers moisture for optimal growth. Make sure the soil you’re working with isn’t overly dry or wet, or else it can hinder nutrient absorption in the later stages of growth.
I’d suggest deeply watering once or twice per week during dry spells and pulling back slightly when the rainy/cold season comes around. Avoid overhead watering at all costs to reduce the risk of fungal infection.
What Fertilizer Helps Clematis Bloom More?
When it comes to fertilizer use for clematis, you want to go for a balanced blend, ideally with an NPK of 10-10-10.
You can even consider switching to a bloom-boosting fertilizer in between to encourage more vigorous flowering in your clematis. A good bloom-boosting NPK lingers somewhere around 5-10-10 and can help you often throughout your clematis growing journey.
Reapply this fertilizer every 4-6 weeks to get through the summertime.
How Do You Support Clematis As It Grows?
To support clematis growth, trellises, obelisks, or netting are your best options. This perennial has a slightly different climbing habit compared to others, so you want to accommodate it accordingly.
I’d suggest tying up clematis stems to keep them from flopping and touching the ground. Strong support is important because it promotes upright growth and allows for generous sun exposure, which will ultimately lead to more flowers.
What Pests Or Problems Can Affect Blooming?
Although pest and insect infestations aren’t very common with clematis, aphids, slugs,, spider mites and mealybugs in the garden still pose a threat that’s significant enough to keep you on your toes.
Clematis wilt is a common issue. It’s when the stems start to blacken and become super weak. You want to cut diseased stems immediately and clean all your tools thoroughly after cutting affected wood. It would be foolish to wait around and not take strong action in such a situation.
Believe it or not, most fungal and bacterial issues can be countered with good air circulation, so try not to cram too many plants in one small area or corner.
Let’s Conclude
To be very honest with you, initially, I wasn’t the biggest fan of clematis. I mean, yeah, it’s beautiful, vibrant, and has a very unique leathery texture, but it didn’t jump out at me like some of the other flowers in my younger days did.
As time went by, I found myself increasingly drawn to clematis. I first tried planting them in the garage (because I thought I was a genius and had a whole system planned to outsmart the weather), but let’s just say it ended with more regrets than blooms.
These days, I follow my mom’s footsteps and start them in front of her garage and along the garden borders. Now they actually grow, adding elegance and vibrant color right where they belong.
I finally began to see what my mom loved about these perennials, and it’s not just their visual beauty. Their unique growth habit and textured, light-colored flowers bring a rustic, elegant vibe to the garden that’s difficult to achieve with other flowers.
I planted my climantis in a shady spot. Is it too late to transplant I live in New York should I wait until fall?
Hi Linda! Not too late at all! 😊 If your clematis isn’t too established yet, you can still move it, but do it gently, ideally on a cooler, cloudy day. Since you’re in New York, early spring or fall is best for major transplants, but if it’s struggling in too much shade, it’s okay to move it now with a little extra care and plenty of water. Just try to disturb the roots as little as possible.
I planted 2 different Clematis 3 years ago, one on each side of my arch trellis. Each year, they both start new growth from the ground. One side looks great as it grows and blooms along my trellis, but then all of a sudden, the bottom vines and leaves look like they’re dry, brown, and dying. Not sure why. The other one is a late bloomer and looks fine so far. I have another one planted several feet away with no issues, and it’s still full and blooming. I live in Southern Massachusetts.
Hi! 😊 That sounds so frustrating, especially when one is thriving and the other struggles! 😕 The dry, browning at the base could be a few things: clematis wilt, which hits suddenly and affects only part of the plant, or possibly too much sun at the roots (clematis like “cool feet”). Try mulching heavily around the base or planting something low-growing nearby to shade the roots.
Also, make sure it’s not staying too wet, soggy roots can stress the plant and lead to issues. Since your other clematis nearby is doing well, it’s probably not a soil-wide problem, just a sensitive one! Fingers crossed it bounces back 🤞😊
My clematis bloomed in spring. It has the flower stems left where all the petals fell off. Do I need to cut all of these off? Don’t know how to prune it! Please explain!
Hi Karen! 😊 If your clematis bloomed in spring, it’s likely an early-flowering type. You don’t need to cut it back hard, just snip off the spent flower stems above a healthy set of leaves to tidy it up. That can sometimes encourage a second, smaller bloom later in the season. Hope that helps!
Sadly I have not taken good care of my clematis. I would like to be able to revive it. It is all in a clump and falling over. Is there any way to prune it. Not sure what kind it is. It probably is the spring bloomer. It’s always loaded with flowers
Hi Karen! 😊 Don’t worry, clematis is pretty resilient and it sounds like yours just needs a little refresh. If it’s a spring bloomer, it’s probably a Group 2 type, so you can give it a light prune right after it finishes blooming. Cut back any dead or tangled stems, and trim just above a set of healthy leaves to encourage new growth. Add some support to help it climb again, and it should perk up beautifully!
can I send you a picture of my problem with clematis
Hi Barbara! Of course! 😊 You’re welcome to send us a photo of your clematis, we’d be happy to take a look and help out. You can email it to us at: tinygardenhabit@gmail.com 😊
Hi my name is Denise and I have a problem with my climatis i transplanted a couple years ago so it would have more sun. So I planted it on the north side of my house and put some small plants around the roots to protect them. The leaves look gorgeous and full but not one bloom. I had blooms before I transplanted it but it didn’t ever get full of blooms but now two years later still no blooms. What am I doing wrong? I give it miracle grow, I don’t let it get real dry, I’m at a loss.I could really use your help. Thank you
Hi Denise!😊 That sounds so frustrating. I’ve been there with a clematis that just refused to bloom. 😅 Even though it’s getting more sun now, being on the north side might still limit direct light depending on your location. They really love 6+ hours of sun to flower well. Also, some varieties bloom only on old wood or new wood, so pruning at the wrong time could be removing next year’s buds. I’d skip pruning this year and see if it surprises you next spring. You’re definitely doing all the right things otherwise!
My Climatis is about 20 years old. It’s planted on the North side of our house. It get afternoon sun from the West. It grows on new and old wood, and it blooms like crazy in July. I think the name of my species is Purple Queen. I thought it was the third type of Clematis but from you description I’m not sure. Can you tell me which one it is and if I need to do anything other than the springtime pruning?
Thank you.
Hi Charlotte 😊 From what you described (big bloom in July, vigorous, happy on a north side with some afternoon sun), it sounds most like a late summer clematis type, which is usually pruned as Group 3. That means a hard prune in late winter or very early spring is perfect, down to about 12 to 18 inches, cutting just above strong buds, and then it blooms on fresh growth.
The quick way to confirm is this: does it ever flower in spring on last year’s stems? If it only starts in summer, treat it as Group 3. If you want, send a photo of the flowers and seed heads to our e-mail: tinygardenhabit@gmail.com and I can help you confirm the type.
Is there a way to ward off rabbits? I brought home 3 beautiful purple ones, planted them trailed them up on my beautiful obelisk, to wake up to the bottoms being chewed and all three plants disconnected from the roots! I went and bought chicken wire and wrapped my beautiful obelisk…and they did come back but it was too late for them to bloom. It’s so ugly now…but protected….will I have to keep the chicken wire up forever? Not a fan of bunnies!!!
Hi Judy 🙂 Rabbits can be brutal on young clematis. I’d keep some kind of barrier around the base at least until the stems are stronger, but you may be able to make it neater with a small cylinder of hardware cloth or rabbit fencing just around the lower stems instead of covering the whole obelisk.
I bought 2 climates at the greenhouse and they are fixed to a miniature trellis. Should I break the trellis and add it to my trellis for them to climb on. Or leave them on it til I cut back in late fall. They told me this kind gets cut back to about 6 inches above ground.
Hi Robin 🙂 I wouldn’t break the little trellis if the stems are wrapped tightly around it. You can set the whole thing near your larger trellis and gently guide new growth onto the bigger support. If they told you it gets cut back hard, that sounds like a Group 3 type, which is usually pruned in late winter or early spring.
Hi I live in the UK I have a Clementis at the front near my front door it gets full sun all day it seems to flower at the top of the plant not all over it flowers June/july …
Hi Susan 🙂 Since you’re in the UK and it flowers in June or July, it may need pruning based on its clematis group. If it only flowers at the top, try training some stems sideways on the support and make sure the lower growth gets light too. Clematis often blooms better when the vines are spread out instead of going straight up.
Hello! I’m interested in harvesting seeds and starting new plants. How and when do I do that?
Hi Tracie 🙂 Let the seed heads dry on the vine first, then collect the fluffy seeds and store them somewhere cool and dry. Just know clematis grown from seed can take a long time to bloom, and it may not look exactly like the parent plant.
Hya Charlotte my friend has a large white blooming clemetis it looks like fluffy clouds so beautiful. Unfortunately she doesn’t know the name as it was inherited it is in flower now and it is early summer here in England without you seeing the bloom any ideas what it is called and how and when to prune I think she prunes too hard and doesn’t tie it up enough. It only flower’s the once but I think if lightly primed it could flower again
Hi Crissy 🙂 Without seeing the bloom it’s hard to name it for sure, but a large white clematis flowering once in early summer could be a Group 2 type. I’d avoid pruning it hard unless you know the variety. Lightly prune after flowering, tie the stems in well, and spread them out on the support so it can bloom more evenly.
I have three Climatis – two of them get 6+ hours of sun daily and one is on east side of house and gets right at 6 hours. The East plant is new and climbing well, no flowers. The other two are sunny and looking pretty good. I have Creeping Jenny – I like it better than wood chips and such but creeping should be changed to exploding – it grows fast and furious – looks good but concerned that it might impact the Climatis. Any known issues? Oh, NE Oklahoma, hot, really hot in summers here. 🙂
Hi Dan 🙂 Creeping Jenny can work as a living mulch, but I’d keep it pulled back a few inches from the clematis crown so it doesn’t crowd the base or hold too much moisture there. Since your east-side clematis is new, I wouldn’t worry too much about no flowers yet. Some need a season or two to settle in before blooming well.
My Clematis blooms beautifully. Then starts dying from bottom leaves up. I water, I feed it and this happens every year. I dead head spent flowers. What am I doing wrong. Planted on west side of house so get some pretty hot sun but no leaf wilting.
Hi Cathy 🙂 That sounds like the hot west-side sun may be stressing the lower leaves, especially after blooming. I’d keep the roots cool with mulch or low companion plants, water deeply instead of lightly, and make sure there’s good airflow around the base. Deadheading is fine, but I wouldn’t overfeed it.
My climates has a lot of long shoots no buds on them should I trim those off thanks
Hi Maria 🙂 I wouldn’t trim all the long shoots off just because they don’t have buds yet. Try tying and spreading them out on the support first, since clematis often blooms better when the vines are trained sideways instead of straight up.
My jackamine is growing beautiful vines but no blooms? Last year it was beautiful but this year only green vines.
Hi Cheryl 🙂 Jackmanii usually blooms on new growth, so all green vines with no flowers can mean it needs more time, more sun, or less nitrogen-heavy feeding. I’d avoid cutting it back hard now and make sure it’s getting good sun and a bloom-friendly fertilizer instead of lots of leafy growth.
I have 2 plants, each are on the sides of a trellis. Last year they bloomed wonderful with leaves on the entire plant. This year there are only leaves n buds at the top of the plants, no leaves on the vines from the soil to about 5 feet up.
Why is this happening,I have no idea what kind of plants they aren’t. Please help!!
Hi Wilma 🙂 That bare lower growth can happen when clematis vines shoot straight up and only get light at the top. If you don’t know the type, I’d avoid hard pruning for now. After flowering, try tying some stems sideways across the trellis and keep the roots cool so it can fill in better next season.
I have a clematis that went in the ground many years ago…25+. For the first several years it bloomed very nicely. I remember that it was supposed to bloom twice…but generally it only bloomed once. White flowers. Now….for several years, it has not grown much or bloomed at all. After reading this I realize it needs sun! The trees in the area are fully shading it. What is the root structure like? Will I be able to move it, or should I just consider it to be at the end of its life, and start fresh with a new plant in a new sunny spot? There is very little new growth on it this year…..
Hi 🙂 After 25+ years, I’d be cautious about moving it because older clematis can have a deep, established root system and may not transplant easily. If there’s very little new growth and the area is now fully shaded, I’d probably start fresh with a new plant in a sunnier spot, or try taking cuttings if there’s enough healthy growth left.
Hello,
Are there any clematis that do well in containers?
Hi Peggy 🙂 Yes, some clematis do very well in containers, especially more compact varieties. I’d choose a large pot with good drainage, give it a sturdy trellis, and keep the roots cool with mulch or companion plants while the top gets plenty of sun. Just make sure to water regularly, since containers dry out faster.