If you’re interested in giving your garden a vertical accent, and enjoy growing flowers that hummingbirds love too, then the clematis is for you!
Clematis is a vining plant that offers a unique variety of flower colors and forms. The variety also extends to time of bloom with some blooming as early as February and others blooming in summer, but most bloom in mid- to late spring.
We are fully stocked with clematis plants right now, so it’s a great time to see what’s in store!
Pruning Types
With the variety of bloom times and growth habits, clematis have been categorized into pruning types. Here’s the need-to-know:
Type 1 – Prune Where Necessary Immediately After Flowering
Bloom the earliest in spring. It flowers on old wood of the previous season; other than trimming off obvious dieback in spring, it should only be pruned where necessary immediately after flowering.
Type 2 – Trim Back to First Buds in Late Winter-Early Spring
This type will generally start flowering in late spring. It will bloom primarily on old wood of the previous season, with a second flush later in summer. Dead and weak vines should be removed in late winter. When you see buds begin to swell lightly, then trim remaining vines back to the first buds that are seen to remove dead stems. Cut just above the fat buds.
Type 3 – Prune in Spring
Each spring this type should be pruned back to within a few inches of the ground, as it flowers on new wood of the season.
Growing Tips
- Plant in a full sun location.
- Plant near a fence, or install a trellis or other support structure for the vine to group up on.
- Protect the roots from getting too hot by underplanting with a low-growing plant. Underplanting will also disguise the leggy base of the plant.
- Grows best in average to evenly moist soil conditions, but does not tolerate standing water.
- Apply a layer of mulch, such as G&B Organics Soil Building Conditioner, in both summer and winter to conserve soil moisture and insulate in cold and exposed locations.
Our Spring 2025 Clematis Selection
Almost all clematis plants will only grow to around 10 feet tall, unless noted otherwise.
Most clematis plants are also deciduous (losing their leaves in winter), however there are a couple varieties that are evergreen such as ‘Snowdrift’, ‘Apple Blossom’, ‘Avalanche’ and ‘Early Sensation’. The evergreen varieties are primarily available at our garden center in late winter as they are known for their prolific and fragrant blooms in early spring.
Here are the 2025 varieties in stock, (as of when this blog is being written) and sorted by bloom color:
White Flowering Varieties
- Early Sensation – Grows to 8 ft. tall. large white petals surround an elegant yellow-green center; may bloom again in late summer. Type 1.
- Snowdrift – Grows to 20 ft. tall. Single white star-shaped flower; early to mid-spring bloom. Type 1.
- Moonlight Clematis – Grows 8 – 10 ft. Large Pale-yellow stars fading to white. Early summer late spring bloom. Type 2
- Gillian Blades – Large, snow-white flowers with delicate waved edges; late spring to early fall. Type 2.
Pink Varieties
- Fireworks – Grows 10 ft. tall. A climbing variety, huge violet flowers with fiery red bars along the petals. Type 2.
- Pink Champagne – Grows to 10 ft. tall. Popular climber with vivid hot pink blooms flushed with lavender and blue. Spring blooming. Type 2.
- Elizabeth – Grows to 20 ft. tall. Light shell-pink flowers vanilla scented flowers; early spring and possible late summer bloom. Type 1.
- Ruben Pink Anemone – Grows 20 ft. A dainty vine with little star shaped pink flowers. Late summer to early spring bloom. Type 1.
Lavender-Purple Varieties
- Guiding Star – Large, deep purple flowers; summer bloom. Type 3.
- Piilu – Spectacular double lavender and fuchsia flowers; late spring to early fall bloom. Type 2.
- Vancouver Plum Gorgeous – Velvety, plum purple flowers that fade to purple-blue, summer bloom. Type 2.
- Venosa Violacea – Deep purple flowers with white stripes; summer bloom. Type 3.
- Tie Dye – Grows up to 15 ft. tall. Violet-blue flowers marbled with white, early summer bloom. Type 3.
- Countess of Lovelace – Grows up to 8 ft. tall. Large Lavender-Blue petals with white stripes. Blooming in early-spring and sometimes fall. Type 2.
- Negritjanka – Grows up to 10 ft. Abundant Medium deep plum flowers 5 inches across. Type 3.
- Horn of Plenty – Grows up to 10ft. Massive rosy – purple flowers with reddish veins. Blooms late summer to fall. Type 3.
- Edo Murasaki – Grows up to 8 ft. Large reddish-purple flowers with a blue cast. Blooms late spring to early fall. Type 2.
Red Varieties
- Madame Julia Correvan – Red flower with yellow anthers; mid-summer bloom. Type 3.
- Red Star – Grows up to 7 ft. tall. Large velvety-red double blooms; late spring to early fall bloom. Type 2.
- Starry Nights – Grows up to 7 ft. Violet blue flower with a red central bar through the petals. Blooms late spring to early fall. Type 2.
- Viva Polonia – Grows 6 ft. tall. Large red star shaped blooms with white stripes. Blooms early to late summer. Type 2.
Blue Varieties
- Frances Rivis – Pendulous blue blooms with white centers; mid to late spring. Type 1.
- Jackmanii – Rich royal blue with white anthers; mid-summer bloom. Type 3.
- Vancouver Starry Nights – Grows up to 7 ft. tall. Spectacular violet-blue flowers with a dark reddish central bar; late spring to early fall bloom. Type 2.
- Daniel Deronda – Spectacular large blue flowers with violet undertones and some white streaking; mid-summer bloom. Type 3.
- Mrs Cholmondely – Grows 10 ft. tall. early summer blooming. Produces large vibrant soft blue flowers. Type 2.
Yellow Varieties
- My Angel – Dainty nodding bell-shaped flowers in shades of yellow with red reverse; unique silver seed plumes in winter; mid-summer bloom. Type 3.
Shop Our Vines Online
You can browse our live inventory of vining plants online, and even place an order for store pick-up or local delivery! See what we have in stock now, or give us a call at 541-929-3524 to ask about availability.