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Clematis

Clematis

Clematis spp. und Gartenhybriden

Garden Balcony Sun Partial shade Medium

For your Clematis

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Clematis Fertiliser Clematis FertiliserFrom €9,85View product → Clematis & Climbing Plant Compost Clematis & Climbing Plant Compost€8,95View product → Clematis Repotting Set Clematis Repotting Set€18,95View product →

Profile

Plant group
Clematis · woody climbers and herbaceous forms
Growth & habit
Climbing, scrambling or herbaceous depending on the group; leaf stalks of many climbing forms grip slender supports.
Foliage
Usually opposite, often divided leaves; many garden forms are deciduous, while some species are evergreen.
Family
Buttercup family · Ranunculaceae
Origin
Species from different world regions; many garden forms developed through breeding
Height
Compact and herbaceous forms often around 0.75–2 m; climbers reach several metres, vigorous species much higher
Bloom
Spring to autumn depending on species and cultivar; some sheltered evergreen species also flower in winter
Toxicity
Not intended for consumption. Sap can irritate skin; wear gloves when pruning and handling.

Care calendar

Leaf emergence

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Deciduous garden forms mainly start growth in spring. Species, pruning group, winter and region shift the timing.

Flowering / flower development

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Combined overview of different groups, not continuous flowering of one cultivar: early species in spring, large hybrids from early summer, late groups from summer into autumn. Winter-flowering species can fall outside this garden calendar.

Leaf fall

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Deciduous forms shed leaves in autumn. Evergreen species keep foliage; do not expect complete autumn leaf fall in those plants.

Pruning & growth habit

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

February/March: prune group 2 lightly and group 3 hard. Prune group 1 after its own flowering when needed. Follow the cultivar, not one shared date for all plants.

Guidance for Germany and Central Europe. Position, weather, species and cultivar shift these windows; indoor and container plants also depend on their winter conditions.

Your seasonal care plan

  • Check root-ball moisture

    Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct

    Check the root ball and fresh compost separately for moisture. Containers and rain shadows beside walls can dry quickly. Water thoroughly when needed, allow drainage and protect fragile stems.

  • Coordinate nutrition

    Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep

    During growth, account for nutrients already supplied. The linked fertiliser has its own dilution and a 3–4 week interval; do not feed automatically during dormancy.

    View product dosage and application →

  • Plant and renew root space

    Mar · Apr · May · Sep · Oct

    Spring and early autumn are useful windows in suitable weather. Choose planting depth by plant group, protect stems and account for initial fertiliser in fresh compost.

    View product dosage and application →

  • Check winter conditions

    Oct · Nov · Dec · Jan · Feb · Mar

    Hardiness depends on species and cultivar. Container roots face more frost exposure than roots in the ground. Tender evergreens need suitable winter shelter; deciduous forms shed their leaves in autumn.

Highlighted months are guidance, not fixed dates. Observe the plant, root ball and weather; water, feed and repot according to actual need.

Seasonal care intensity

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Seasonal guidance for Germany. Needs depend on location, weather and species. Check moisture in winter too; these markers are not a feeding schedule.

Peak care Active Reduced care

Care tips

  • Calendar for Germany/Central Europe; species, cultivar, region and weather shift the timing.
  • Sun or partial shade suits most garden forms. Keep the root zone cool, maintain even moisture and avoid waterlogging. A stable support with sufficiently slender elements lets leaf stalks grip.
  • Group 1 flowers early on old wood: prune only when needed after flowering. Group 2 first flowers on the previous year’s stems: trim carefully to healthy buds in late winter and, if needed, again after the first flush. Group 3 flowers in summer on new growth: in late winter cut to strong pairs of buds around 30 cm above ground. Identify the cultivar before pruning.
  • Large-flowered hybrids blooming in early or late summer can be planted with the root-ball surface 5–7.5 cm below the new soil level. Winter- and spring-flowering, evergreen, viticella and tangutica species and their cultivars, and herbaceous clematis should have the root-ball surface just below soil level. Deep planting is not a rule for every clematis.

Fruit & harvest

Fruit and seed formation

Many clematis develop decorative silky seed heads. Each small dry fruit carries an elongated style, feathery in many species, creating the characteristic fluffy appearance.

Harvest and use

Not a food crop. Seed heads may remain for decoration or be collected for sowing. Garden hybrids produce variable seedlings; propagate named cultivars vegetatively to preserve their characteristics.

Plant knowledge at a glance

Position, benefits & character

Position & soil

Sun or partial shade suits most garden forms. Keep the root zone cool, maintain even moisture and avoid waterlogging. A stable support with sufficiently slender elements lets leaf stalks grip.

Distinctive features

Flowers range from bells to large stars, sometimes followed by decorative seedheads. Flowering on old or new wood determines pruning.

Benefits

Covers trellises, fences and obelisks; compact types suit containers and herbaceous groups mix with other perennials. Open flowers can provide food for insects.

Partners & symbioses

Neighbouring plants can shade roots and support stems, but also compete for water and nutrients. Such a planting combination is not a guaranteed symbiosis or requirement for growth.

Pruning & growth habit

Clematis includes woody climbers and non-climbing herbaceous plants. Small-flowered species, large-flowered hybrids and evergreens differ in flowering time, space requirements and hardiness. Large-flowered hybrids blooming in early or late summer can be planted with the root-ball surface 5–7.5 cm below the new soil level. Winter- and spring-flowering, evergreen, viticella and tangutica species and their cultivars, and herbaceous clematis should have the root-ball surface just below soil level. Deep planting is not a rule for every clematis.

  1. 1. Identify the group first

    Keep the cultivar label and observe flowering time. Distinguish dead stems from living dormant ones; avoid a blanket ground-level cut without identifying the group.

  2. 2. Group 1: after early flowering

    Alpina and Montana types, for example, flower on existing wood. Remove only unwanted, damaged or dead stems; shorten selectively after flowering if space is limited.

  3. 3. Group 2: keep flowering wood

    For early large-flowered hybrids, remove dead tips in late winter and work back to the highest strong pair of buds. Preserve living previous-year stems for the first flush; trim again afterwards if needed.

  4. 4. Group 3: make room for new stems

    In late winter, cut forms flowering in summer on current-year growth to a strong pair of buds around 30 cm above ground. Ease the dry upper growth carefully out of its support.

  5. 5. Account for herbaceous habit

    Non-climbing herbaceous types such as Integrifolia forms need supports or neighbouring plants. Remove dead stems close to ground level, then guide new growth loosely. Gloves protect against skin-irritant sap.

Nursery forms

This overview explains nursery supply forms. It does not indicate current availability in the GREEN24 shop.

Bare-root

Ask a specialist nursery

Bare-root stock is uncommon in retail gardening; follow delivery guidance and prevent roots drying out.

Root-balled

Not typical for this profile

Traditional field-lifted, root-balled nursery stock is not a usual clematis form.

Container-grown

Common form

Rooted plants in pots or containers, often with canes or a small trellis.

Young plant

Common form

Young plants raised from cuttings or other propagation; small root balls need particularly attentive moisture care.

Shrub

Ask a specialist nursery

Some non-climbing herbaceous groups develop a bushy habit; this is not a universal shrub form for clematis.

Feathered tree

Not typical for this profile

A branched tree form is not appropriate for usual clematis stock.

Half-standard

Not typical for this profile

Half-standard trees are not a usual clematis form.

Standard

Not typical for this profile

Standard trees are not a normal retail form for this climbing and herbaceous group.

Topiary

Ask a specialist nursery

Pot-grown plants trained on hoops, obelisks or trellises are possible. The form comes from support and training, not a self-supporting trunk.

Propagation & grafting

Propagation

Cuttings and layering preserve cultivar characteristics. Seed is mainly useful for species and breeding; cultivar seedlings are not automatically true to type.

Grafting

Grafting is possible in specialist propagation but is not a necessary care step for every garden clematis. Follow the specific plant’s delivery and planting guidance.

Species & cultivars

Clematis alpina / Atragene-Gruppe

Early-flowering clematis with nodding flowers; pruning group 1.

Clematis montana

Vigorous spring-flowering climbers needing ample space; pruning group 1.

Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’

Large-flowered example of pruning group 2: preserve previous-year flowering wood.

Clematis ‘Jackmanii’ / spät großblütige Gruppe

Purple summer flowers on new growth; an example of pruning group 3. The garden photograph illustrates this type.

Clematis viticella

Summer-flowering species and cultivars with generally smaller flowers; pruning group 3. Do not automatically plant deeply as for large-flowered hybrids.

Clematis integrifolia / Integrifolia-Gruppe

Herbaceous, non-climbing or partly scrambling forms; support stems and remove dead growth near ground level.

Clematis armandii

Evergreen spring-flowering climbers for sheltered positions; less hardy than many deciduous garden forms.

Pests & diseases

These signs support an initial assessment. Different causes may look alike; choose a treatment only after identifying the problem.

Investigate sudden wilt

Fungal clematis wilt especially affects large-flowered hybrids. A dry root ball or damaged stems can look similar. Inspect roots and stem bases, remove affected dead stems and seek advice when the cause is unclear.

White coating on leaves

A powdery coating can indicate powdery mildew. Inspect both leaf surfaces, improve airflow and reduce drought stress; choose treatment only after suitable diagnosis.

Inspect young shoots and leaves

Aphids can colonise soft tips, while slugs and snails especially damage young shoots. Inspect regularly, identify the pest and damage, and choose targeted measures instead of a routine spraying programme.

Protect roots and stems

Dry roots, waterlogging or a broken stem can cause similar visible symptoms. Check root-ball moisture, clear drainage holes and stem injuries before adding fertiliser.

Hardiness · USDA

Species-dependent

Check species/cultivar; zone does not set pruning group.

Clematis montana
USDA 6a–9b
Clematis viticella
USDA 4a–8b

USDA zones describe long-term average winter extremes. Containers, young plants, wet soil, wind and late frost need separate consideration.

Understand USDA zones and maps →

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