Clematis will bloom best in full sun. Some varieties, such as ‘Nelly Moser’, can bloom in part shade, but the amount of flowering will be reduced. Clematis like their roots to be cool, so wrapping them or planting something in front of their base will help shade their roots from the hot sun.
This is a perennial vine and will grow back each year. So, how do you prepare clematis for winter?
Preparing Clematis for winter simply involves cutting back all stems to about 30cm above ground as most Clematis in our zone will grow from new wood, and not old. (You can read the plant’s label to be sure what variety you have) Growth can be quite rapid once the soil starts to warm in the spring and day temperatures rise, so keep on top of tying it in or bracing new shoots. Clematises appreciate a trellis, post, or stationary structure to climb; without something, the vine will sprawl, falling over the ground.
It’s a very good pollinator flower as hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies love their blooms.
The blossoms are spectacular with some flowers reaching up to 10 inches across! These showy flowers can be in the form of saucers, bells, tubes, tulips, open bells, doubles, and semi-double. The flowers are usually in the cool shades of purple or pink though they do come in a stunning array of tones including blue, white, magenta, yellow, and bicolor. There are a few Clematis varieties that will bloom twice in one year!
