Pruning, planting, varieties & support
Clematis is the queen of climbing plants. There is no fence, no pergola, no house wall it cannot transform into a sea of flowers. Explore the topic further in the article Orchid Guide for Healthy Blooms.
Clematis — also known in German as Waldrebe — is the most versatile climbing plant for the garden. From the delicate alpine clematis that grows wild in the Austrian mountains to large-flowered hybrids with blooms as big as dinner plates, there is a perfect clematis for every location and every taste.
The only thing you really need to understand is pruning. And that’s exactly where most people go wrong. Here are the three pruning groups — explained in a way you’ll never forget.
Quick profile: Clematis
Botanical name: Clematis (family Ranunculaceae)
Origin: Europe, Asia (native to Austria)
Species: over 300 species, thousands of varieties
Hardy: Yes, most varieties
Flowering period: depending on the species, April–October
Height: 2–12 m (depending on the species)
Location: head in the sun, feet in the shade
Difficulty: medium
The golden rule: head in the sun, feet in the shade
This is the most important sentence about Clematis care. The flowers want sun, but the roots need to stay cool and shaded. In nature, clematis climbs up trees — the roots sit in the cool forest soil, while the shoots grow toward the light.
In the garden, you achieve this by shading the root area: with low-growing perennials, a layer of mulch, or a flat stone placed in front of the stem. Never plant it in blazing midday sun, where the soil heats up too — an east- or west-facing spot is ideal.
Pruning clematis — the three pruning groups
Pruning clematis is where most mistakes happen. There are three pruning groups, and each one is handled differently:
| Pruning group | Flowering time | Pruning | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | April – May | No pruning needed, just thinning out | C. montana, C. alpina |
| Group 2 | May – June + repeat flowering | Light pruning after 1st flowering | 'Nelly Moser', 'The President' |
| Group 3 | July – October | Hard prune in Feb/Mar (30 cm) | C. viticella, 'Jackmanii' |
Group 1 flowers on the previous year's growth — if you prune in winter, you cut off the flowers. Only thin it out after flowering if needed.
Group 2 flowers first on the previous year's growth, then on new growth. Prune lightly after the first flowering — then it will flower again in late summer.
Group 3 flowers on new growth. In February/March, cut back all shoots to 30–50 cm above the ground. It sounds brutal, but it is necessary — otherwise the plant becomes bare at the bottom.
Tip: Always check the label when buying — it will show the pruning group. If not, note down the variety name and look it up. Incorrect pruning is the most common reason clematis does not flower.
Planting clematis
There is one trick when planting clematis that many people do not know: set the plant about 5–10 cm deeper than it was in the pot. This allows it to form underground buds, so it can sprout again after pruning or if it is affected by the dreaded clematis wilt.
Planting time: spring or autumn. Make the planting hole twice as wide as the root ball and enrich the soil with compost. Put up a support straight away — clematis climbs with its leaf stalks and needs thin canes, wires, or trellis to hold on to. It cannot cling to thick posts.
Clematis in Austria
Several clematis species grow wild in Austria. The alpine clematis (Clematis alpina) can be found in mountain forests up to 2,000 meters in elevation — its blue, bell-shaped flowers are a spring highlight. The old man’s beard (Clematis vitalba) climbs up to 20 meters high in floodplain forests and along woodland edges, and in autumn it forms the characteristic silvery seed heads that hang in the trees like beards.
For the garden, the large-flowered hybrids are the most popular. In the Netherlands, millions of clematis plants are produced every year — Dutch breeders have created some of the most beautiful varieties in the world.
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Frequently asked questions about clematis
It is a fungal disease in which individual shoots or the whole plant suddenly wilt and turn brown. Cut affected shoots back to just above the ground immediately. If the plant was set deep enough, it will sprout again from underground buds. Clematis viticella varieties are largely resistant.
Clematis viticella varieties (pruning group 3) are the easiest: hardy, free-flowering, resistant to clematis wilt, and easy to prune — simply cut everything back to 30 cm in spring and that’s it. 'Etoile Violette' and 'Polish Spirit' are tried-and-tested varieties.
Yes, in a large container (at least 30 liters) with a climbing support. Compact varieties like 'Piilu' or 'Bijou' are especially well suited. In winter, wrap the pot with fleece so the roots do not freeze.
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