Clematis

Clematis plants bring flowering into the vertical parts of a garden, climbing through trellis, fences, pergolas and arches or threading themselves among established shrubs and small trees. The genus covers an unusually broad range of habits and flowering times, from early spring forms to large-flowered summer cultivars and later varieties that continue into autumn. Clematis flowers can be open and star-shaped, nodding or bell-like, single or double, in shades ranging from white and soft pink to blue, purple, red and deeper wine tones.

The right clematis depends as much on where it will grow as on the flower you choose. Some vigorous climbing clematis need space to travel, while more compact varieties suit obelisks, containers and smaller gardens. Most prefer their roots in cool, moisture-retentive soil with the upper growth reaching into good light, and all benefit from a support their leaf stalks can wind around. Planting Clematis beside a wall or fence works particularly well when the base is shaded by surrounding plants and the stems are allowed to climb naturally into the space above.

Flowering time also determines how each plant should be pruned. Clematis  are divided into three main pruning groups: early-flowering varieties that need little regular pruning, large-flowered forms that are lightly pruned in late winter and again after their first flush, and later-flowering clematis that can be cut back harder each year. Choose across those groups and it is possible to carry clematis flowers through a remarkably long stretch of the gardening year, using one climbing framework to hold several different moments of the season.