Clematis How To Grow Guide | Spring Hill Nurseries

Clematis Saalomon from Spring Hill Nurseries blooms with beautiful white blooms along a fence.

There’s nothing more beautiful than a Clematis. Often called the “queen of the vines,” Clematis are among the most stunning climbing plants for any garden, offering vibrant flowers and a variety of color options. Whether planted against a trellis, fence, or arbor, Clematis can create a breathtaking display with minimal effort. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about growing and maintaining Clematis in your garden.

In this guide:

Prepare for Planting Clematis
How to Plant Clematis
Clematis Maintenance and Care
Choosing Types of Clematis & Companion Plants

Prepare for Planting Clematis

Learn about the best time to plant, how to choose the right location, and how to choose the best support structures for climbing Clematis vines.

When to Plant Clematis

The best time to plant Clematis is in spring or fall, allowing the roots to establish before extreme weather conditions. Spring Hill Nurseries ships ready-to-grow Clematis in both spring and fall, with shipping times based on your USDA Zone.
Like most perennials, Clematis typically establish within a year or two to reach their full mature size.
Once settled, they can grow several feet in a single season, depending on variety and growing conditions.

Where to Grow Clematis

Clematis vines can be trained or shaped to suit your garden’s layout and will reward a little effort in establishment with years of beautiful blooms. To ensure your plants thrive, provide the right environment:

Growing Zones

Most Clematis thrive in zones 4-9.

Light Conditions

Clematis grows best in full sun to partial shade.
Generally, the plant should receive at least 5-6 hours of sunlight per day.
In hotter climates, afternoon shade can help prevent wilting and extend the life of your flowers.

Soil Conditions

Clematis prefers well-drained, fertile soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH.
Clematis benefit from mulch around the plant for water retention and weed suppression.
Amending the soil with Clematis and Climbers Food All Natural Fertilizer and compost improves nutrient content and moisture retention.

Planting in Containers

When growing a Clematis in a container, choose a large pot (at least 18 inches in diameter) and provide a sturdy trellis.

Support for Climbing Clematis Vines

Vining Clematis need support to climb. Choose a trellis, an arch, a climbing net with thin rods under 1/2 inch, or twine netting for the vine’s leaf tendrils to grip. Since clematis are fast growing, it’s best to install the support structure at planting time to avoid disturbing the roots later.

Shop Spring Hill Nurseries arches and supports to pair with your Clematis vines.

For Clematis that grow up to 6 feet tall, we recommend our Willow Teepee Plant Support, French Country Folding Tuteur, or Metropolitan Folding Tuteur, or other supports 4-6 feet tall. These more compact vines are also well suited for porches, mailboxes, trellises and fence posts, or large container gardens.

For Clematis that grow 6-12 feet, we recommend our Monet Arch, Lattice Arch, Gated Arch, or Bagatelle Arch to be large enough to support your large mature Clematis vine. These larger vines are also well suited to fences and large trellises.

How to Plant Clematis

Proper planting techniques ensure strong, healthy growth:

Space Clematis plants 24 to 36 inches apart from other plants for proper air circulation.
Dig a hole twice the width and depth of the root ball.
Mix compost into the soil for added nutrients. Add Clematis and Climbers All Natural Fertilizer at planting time. This slow-release fertilizer is perfectly balanced to encourage well-developed root systems and abundant flowers.
Vining clematis should be planted so that the crown of the plant is 2"-4" below the soil to encourage strong root growth. Non-vining clematis should be planted at the soil level.
Fill in the planting hole with amended soil and tamp down firmly to eliminate air pockets.
Water deeply after planting.
Apply mulch around the base of your clematis, leaving a 6"-8" circle around the base of the plant to prevent stem wilt.

Clematis Maintenance and Care

Clematis plants will flourish with regular care. Adequate watering, fertilizing, deadheading, and pruning extend the bloom season of your plant.

Clematis Care

Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Be sure to water deeply once a week, increasing frequency in hot weather.

Fertilizing: In early spring, apply a balanced fertilizer (10-30-20) or compost to promote healthy growth. Feed Clematis plants several times throughout the season to encourage flowering. Consider using our Clematis and Climbers Food for new or established clematis vines.

Mulching: Apply a layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture and help suppress weeds.

For more details about how to overwinter your Clematis, see our tips: Clematis End of Season Care Tips & How To Prepare For Winter.

Pruning Clematis

Pruning is essential for encouraging new growth and maintaining plant health. The best pruning technique for your clematis depends on the type you are growing.

Spring Hill Nurseries has an EZ Pruning system for Clematis: each plant is in the Red, Yellow, or Green pruning group, based on whether it blooms on old or new wood.

Green Category/Group C/Group III: Blooms on new wood; cut back hard in late winter or early spring.
Yellow Category/Group B/Group II: Blooms on both old and new wood; prune lightly in early spring.
Red Category/Group A/Group I: Blooms on old wood; only trim these Clematis right after flowering, and only where needed.

For more details about pruning Clematis, see our complete guide: How to Prune Clematis: Spring Hill Nurseries® EZ Pruning Guide.

Use our high quality Rosewood Pruners - they are ideal for trimming Clematis plants of any pruning group, whether they require light maintenance or extensive cutting back.

Managing Pests and Diseases

Clematis vines are relatively resistant to pests and disease. Here are tips for treating pests and diseases that may occasionally appear on your Clematis.

Aphids: Treat aphids with insecticidal soap or neem oil.
Spider mites: Increase humidity by mulching soil, and spray leaves with a blast of water with your hose to remove mites.
Clematis Wilt: Prevent Clematis wilt by avoiding excessive moisture on foliage, ensuring good airflow around plants, and avoiding damage to healthy stems.

Choosing Types of Clematis & Companion Plants

Types of Clematis

When selecting a Clematis vine for your garden, consider color, bloom time, and size. There’s a Clematis for every garden style. Some varieties, like the Burning Love Clematis, boast rich, velvety hot red blooms, while others, like our Mazurek Clematis, feature dynamic mauve and pink blooms. When planted correctly, Clematis plants can live 15 years or longer.

Types of Clematis Flowers: You’ll find an incredible selection of colors and flower forms when you grow Clematis. Pink, purple, and white are the most common colors you’ll find among Clematis, but you’ll also find unique red, yellow, and blue flowering varieties from Spring Hill Nurseries. Flower forms include blooms with broad rounded or pointed petals, eye-catching flowers with feathery centers, and even tulip-or-bell-shaped blooms.

Non-Vining Clematis: Clematis Chloe and Clematis Expander are compact non-vining varieties that can be planted as a groundcover, with prolific blooming that repeats throughout the season.

Best Clematis variety for a container: Try non-vining Clematis, or unique Clematis Little Lemons for containers and hanging baskets.

Pollinator-Friendly Plants: Many Clematis will be visited by pollinators or butterflies, too.

Use the shopping filters for Height, Bloom Time, Flower Color and more to discover the Clematis varieties best for your garden.

Companion Plants for Clematis

Pairing Clematis with companion plants can enhance your garden’s beauty and help protect its roots. One of the best companion plants for Clematis is a climbing rose. Roses and Clematis thrive together because they don’t compete aggressively for space, and their contrasting bloom shapes and colors create a stunning visual effect.

Watch: Why Grow Clematis? With Deborah Hardwick

Time to Add Clematis to Your Garden!

Clematis vines add vertical interest and vibrant color to any garden. By selecting the right variety, providing proper care, and planting companion plants, you can enjoy a stunning Clematis display season after season. Whether climbing an arbor, trellis, or fence, these versatile vines will bring beauty and charm to your outdoor space for years to come.

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