Clematis: Queen of the garden

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Like many an old-fashioned favourite, this versatile vine is so beautiful and easy to grow

My friend Sharyn is a passionate gardener who lives, and gardens, in the Rouge Valley. By her own admission, Sharyn is a clematis queen – she has some twelve different varieties in her wonderful cottage-style garden.

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She planted her first one, a sturdy little ‘Jackmanii’, by the front porch fourteen years ago, and it’s still growing strong, topping out today at close to 16 feet. Altogether, her collection makes a spectacular display from early June almost till fall.

Clematis (feel free to pronounce it Clem-AH-tis, or CLEM-ah-tis, since both are correct) is an old-fashioned favourite that appears in literature going back as far as ancient Greece, where it was associated with the god Apollo. (The word “clematis,” somewhat unimaginatively, comes from the ancient Greek word for vine.)

But the form we know today was probably introduced to Victorian gardens in the mid-nineteenth century, and has been a much-loved (and much-hybridized) garden staple ever since.

What Sharyn loves about them is that they are extremely easy to grow, almost indestructible once established, and if they like where you put them, will thrive for years, even centuries: abandoned farmhouses sometimes still have clematis vines blooming by their front doors.

The plant comes in a huge variety of colours, from white, pink, red, and blue to light and dark purple – and different sizes and shapes, including bell, star-shaped, multiple, evergreen forms, large or tiny blossoms, and even cone-shaped or tubular varieties.

Some are richly fragrant, feature two or even three colours on a single blossom, and can be striped, spotted, or have contrasting throats. Sharyn’s collection includes ‘The President,’ ‘Nelly Moser,’ ‘Icy Montana,” and of course the granddaddy of them all, ‘Jackmanii.’

The full clematis family comprises twelve different groups, each with different habits and methods of care. But most popular are the spring bloomers (Group 1), repeat bloomers (Group 2), and summer/fall bloomers (Group 3).

It’s important to know which group your clematis falls into, as each has unique annual pruning requirements – and these can vary considerably.

The care tag that comes with the plant will tell you all of that, along with planting and growing tips; read it carefully and hang on to it for future reference, especially if, like Sharyn, you grow more than one variety. (She tends to stick to one favourite group to avoid confusion; almost all of hers are Group 1 or 2.)

Clematis prefer rich, well-drained soil, and plenty of water throughout the growing season, but don’t let them get soggy. Dig a hole the same depth as the pot the plant arrived in and settle it in carefully, adding soil at the sides as needed but being careful not to add more soil on top; they hate being planted too deep. Water regularly and add compost or fertilizer monthly during the growing season.

Like all exuberant bloomers, clematises love full sun, a minimum of six hours a day. (Even so, there are a few hybrids available that will tolerate light shade.)

But they need cool roots, so plant something at their feet: hostas or daylilies are a perfect complement, since they allow the clematis’s roots to warm up in early spring sunshine but fill in to provide shelter as summer wears on.

Since it is a vine, you’ll need to provide something for your clematis to grow on. A trellis or arbour is ideal, but you can train it to cling to espalier frames, ladders, sturdy twine, or anything fanciful you can imagine. (My own ‘Jackmanii’ grows on an ugly wire fence separating my garden from my neighbours’, and transforms it into a colourful carpet of royal purple by July.)

Sharyn always buys the biggest potted specimens she can afford from the nursery; that way, she knows the plant has gotten off to a good start and sometimes gets blooms the very first year.

But you could also start off with a few smaller ones in four-inch pots, and experiment with different colours and types. Before long, you may become a passionate clematis enthusiast yourself.

Please feel free to write in with questions, to comment or to share your own city gardening
adventures with Martha. Write to her at marthasgarden07@gmail.com.