How to Grow and Care for Clematis (Leather Flower)

Clematis, also known as leather flower, is a perennial vine known for its colorful, elegant blooms. It's available in many different species and varieties with a range of flower colors and sizes that bloom during different times of the growing season.

Some members of the genus Clematis are native to North America, while others originate in parts of Asia such as China or Japan.

Clematis prefers full sun, well-drained soil, and mulch around the base of the plant to protect its roots from the heat of high summer. Note that this plant is toxic to people, dogs, cats, and horses and can cause skin irritation in humans.

Clematis Care

• Plant clematis in well-drained soil.
• Give it at least six hours of sunlight per day.
• Water consistently to keep the soil evenly moist.
• Fertilize three times during the growing season.

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Planting

Plant clematis in a spot with moist, well-drained soil and at least six hours of sunlight per day. When planting, make sure that the root system is at least four inches below the soil line.

Clematis can also be mulched after planting for added root protection.

Light

Give clematis full sun to ensure plant health and enjoy profuse blooms. Avoid putting this plant in a place with harsh afternoon sun.

An ideal location will offer direct sun in the morning and filtered light or shade in the afternoon to help keep the plant's roots cool.

Soil

Plant clematis in moist, loamy, well-drained soil. Amend soil with compost during planting to support healthy blooms, moisture retention, and drainage.

Water

Water clematis regularly—as soon the surface of the soil begins to dry out. Mulching with straw, salt hay, shredded leaves, or other organic material can help maintain soil moisture in hot, dry climates.

Avoid overwatering, which can create the right conditions for clematis wilt, a fungal disease that can kill your plant.

Temperature and Humidity

Clematis thrive in USDA hardiness zones 4-9, making them perennial in much of the continental US. Their root systems are particularly sensitive to heat, though the foliage benefits from warmth and direct sunlight. In humid climates, be vigilant about keeping the foliage dry when watering to reduce the occurrence of plant diseases.

Fertilizer

Fertilize clematis three times during the growing season with organic compost or a low-nitrogen fertilizer, such as 5-10-10. You can also use a combination of compost in spring and rose fertilizer for later feedings. Feed before buds open in spring, then once a month thereafter until late summer.

Types of Clematis

The 300 or so types of clematis are categorized based on bloom time: Group One blooms in spring, Group Two blooms multiple times, and Group Three blooms in summer or fall. Here are just a few popular clematis types:

• ‘Apple Blossom’: The pale pink flowers on this spring bloomer grow only 2 inches wide, but they appear in a profuse flush that resembles their namesake.
• ‘Dr. Ruppel': The petals of these large flowers, which grow up to 6 inches across, are pale pink with a rich magenta stripe down the center.
• ‘Jackmanii’: Another large-flowered variety, this Group 3 clematis offers 5-inch blooms in deep blue or purple in summer and fall.

Pruning

Prune Group One clematis after blooms have faded but before high summer, avoiding cutting into woody growth. Group Two clematis should be pruned lightly in late winter by removing dead or damaged vines and cutting back healthy ones to just before the first pair of green buds. Cut Group Three clematis stems down to 24 to 36 inches above the soil line in late winter.

Propagating Clematis

Clematis is easy to propagate by taking stem cuttings. Before you begin, gather clean scissors or pruners, a small plant pot, fresh potting mix, a clear plastic bag, and rooting hormone powder. Here's how to propagate clematis:

1. Remove a 6-inch stem tip from a healthy, new vine, cutting just below a leaf node. Remove all but the top 2 leaves.
2. Fill the small pot with potting mix. Add water to moisten and make a hole a few inches deep with your finger or a stick.
3. Dip the cut end of the stem in rooting hormone powder. Plant the cutting in the hole, keeping the leaves above the soil line. Tent the plastic bag over the pot to hold in moisture.
4. Put the cutting in a warm place with bright, indirect light. Monitor the cutting to ensure that the soil remains evenly moist.
5. After a month or so, give the stem a gentle tug. If you meet resistance, new roots have formed and the cutting can be transplanted into a larger container or hardened off to be transplanted outdoors.

Overwintering

Many varieties of clematis are winter hardy down to USDA growing zone 4, but outdoor plantings can still use some protection in the winter in colder climates.

In fall, apply a few inches of organic mulch, such as straw, salt hay, or shredded leaves, around the base of the plant to protect the roots.

Common Plant Diseases

Clematis wilt is a fungus that can cause the plant's stems and leaves to shrivel suddenly. Planting clematis in well-drained soil and keeping the foliage dry while watering can help prevent this disease.

How to Get Clematis to Bloom

Clematis requires full sun, regular watering, and appropriate soil and fertilizer to bloom.

Bloom Months

Depending on the variety, clematis plants will bloom sometime between March and September. Group 2 clematis may bloom multiple times in a growing season in temperate climates.

How Long Does Clematis Bloom?

Clematis blooms are long-lived, sometimes lasting several weeks before they fade.

What Do Clematis Flowers Look and Smell Like?

Clematis flowers have flat, teardrop-shaped petals, actually sepals, that may be shades of pink, blue, purple, white, red, yellow, or a combination of colors. Varieties with single or double blooms are available.

Large-flowered cultivars may measure 5 to 10 inches across and are rarely aromatic, while small-flowered varieties produce flushes of tiny, dainty blooms that can offer a pleasant aroma.

How to Encourage More Blooms

It's not necessary to deadhead clematis flowers. Support blooming by pruning your clematis plant according to its bloom time and fertilizing throughout the growing season.

Caring for Clematis After It Blooms

After your plant blooms, enjoy its green foliage. You can allow the faded flowers to drop off naturally or snip them off if you prefer.

Common Problems With Clematis

Drooping or blackening of leaves and stems

Droopy, black, or shriveled leaves and stems are a symptom of clematis wilt. This fungal infection can't be treated. Instead, cut back the plant at the soil line, bag the affected plant material, and put it in the trash to avoid spreading the disease. The plant may be able to regrow and remain healthy the following year.

White patches on leaves and stems

Powdery mildew can affect clematis, leaving powdery-looking white spots on its foliage. This fungus affects many garden plants, typically due to poor airflow and trapped moisture.

Prune clematis according to its bloom time to support air circulation and help prevent the issue. You can try applying an organic fungicide to treat powdery mildew.

Holes in leaves

Holes in clematis foliage indicate that pests such as snails, slugs, caterpillars, or earwigs are eating your plant. Inspect the leaves for signs of pests to identify the culprit, then pick off the insects, wash them away with soapy water, or treat the plant with an organic insecticide as appropriate.

From: thespruce