Clematis is a genus of about 380 species within the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. Their garden hybrids and cultivars have been popular among gardeners, beginning with Clematis ‘Jackmanii’, a garden staple since 1862; more cultivars are being produced constantly. They are mainly of Chinese and Japanese origin.
Clematis flowers are beautiful with diversity in shape, color, and size. They can be star-shaped, bell-shaped, or even tulip-like, with colors ranging from white, pink, red, to various shades of purple and blue. These plants are climbers, using leaf stems to wrap around supports. Some can grow quite tall, making them excellent for trellises, arbors, or to cover walls.
Clematis are grouped into three categories based on when they bloom, which dictates how and when to prune them. Group 1 blooms on old wood (previous season’s growth), Group 2 on both old and new wood, and Group 3 on new wood (current season’s growth).
The timing and location of flowers varies; spring-blooming clematis flower on side shoots of the previous year’s stems, summer/fall blooming clematis bloom only on the ends of new stems, and twice-flowering clematis do both
They need well-drained soil and regular watering but can be susceptible to certain diseases like clematis wilt, which can suddenly affect seemingly healthy plants.
Clematis species are mainly found throughout the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, rarely in the tropics. Clematis leaves are food for the caterpillars of some Lepidoptera species, including the willow beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria).
There’s an active community of gardeners and botanists who hybridize clematis to produce new varieties with different flower forms or improved resistance to diseases.
Clematis Varieties
Clematis alpina (Alpine Clematis)
- Characteristics: Bell-shaped flowers, often nodding, in soft blues, purples, and sometimes pink or white. Early flowering, good for shaded areas or as ground cover.
- Origin: Europe, Siberia, China
Clematis armandii (Evergreen Clematis)
- Characteristics: Evergreen, with glossy dark green leaves and large, fragrant white flowers in spring. Requires a warm, sheltered position.
- Origin: China
Clematis integrifolia (Solitary Clematis)
- Origin: Eastern Europe to Siberia
- Characteristics: Nodding bell-shaped flowers, often blue or purple, without the showy sepals of many clematis.
Clematis ‘Bees Jubilee’
- Characteristics: Large, soft pink flowers with deeper pink bars. Blooms in early to mid-summer, known for its vigor and abundant flowering.
- Origin: China
Clematis chrysocoma
- Origin: China
- Characteristics: Known for its golden hairs on the stem and leaves. Flowers are small, creamy-white.
Clematis ‘Bill Mackenzie’
- Characteristics: Large, bell-shaped, deep purple flowers with a slightly fuzzy texture. Blooms throughout summer into autumn.
- Origin: Europe
Clematis ‘Duchess of Edinburgh’
- Characteristics: Double white flowers with a sweet fragrance, resembling a rose. Flowers in late spring to early summer.
- Origin: Cultivated hybrid
Clematis ‘Etoile Violette’
- Characteristics: Small, deep purple flowers with a velvety texture. Blooms prolifically from mid-summer to autumn.
- Origin: Cultivated hybrid
Clematis ‘Frances Rivis’
- Characteristics: Large, soft pink flowers with darker pink stripes. Blooms in early summer, known for its repeat flowering.
- Origin: Southern Europe to Western Asia.
Clematis ‘Gipsy Queen’
- Characteristics: Deep purple, large flowers with a very rich, velvety texture. Blooms heavily in mid-summer.
Clematis ‘Hagley Hybrid’
- Characteristics: Large, semi-nodding, pale purple flowers with a deeper bar. Blooms in late spring to early summer.
Clematis macropetala (Downy Clematis)
- Origin: Northern China, Mongolia, Russia
- Characteristics: Double-flowered, with outer sepals and inner ‘petals’, often blue or lavender.
Clematis ‘Jackmanii’
- Characteristics: One of the most popular, with large, deep purple flowers. Blooms in late summer, vigorous and easy to grow.
Clematis montana (Anemone Clematis)
- Origin: Asia, Himalayas
- Characteristics: Vigorous climber with masses of white or pink flowers in spring.
Clematis ‘John Huxtable’
- Characteristics: Large, wine-red flowers, often with a slightly twisted form. Blooms in summer, known for its vivid color.
Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’
- Origin: Cultivated hybrid
- Characteristics: Large, pale pink flowers with a distinctive central red bar, blooms in late spring.
Clematis ‘Lasurstern’
- Characteristics: Large, star-shaped, deep blue flowers with a silvery-blue sheen. Blooms in summer, often with a second bloom later in the season.
Clematis flammula (Fragrant Virgin’s Bower)
- Origin: Southern Europe to Western Asia
- Characteristics: Small, white, highly fragrant flowers in late summer.
Clematis ‘Margaret Hunt’
- Characteristics: Large flowers in a delicate shade of pale pink with darker pink bars. Blooms in early to mid-summer.
Clematis ‘Gipsy Queen’
- Origin: Cultivated hybrid
- Characteristics: Deep purple flowers with velvety texture. Blooms in mid to late summer.
Clematis orientalis (Orange Peel Clematis)
- Origin: Central Asia, Siberia
- Characteristics: Bell-shaped flowers with a texture resembling orange peel, often yellow.
Clematis ‘Marie Boisselot’
- Characteristics: Large, pure white flowers with a satiny texture. Blooms in late spring to early summer, often with a second flush in late summer.
Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’
- Characteristics: Large, pale pink flowers with a distinctive central red bar. Blooms in late spring, often repeated in late summer.
Clematis cirrhosa (Winter Clematis)
- Origin: Mediterranean region
- Characteristics: Flowers in late winter to early spring, often with spotted or striped petals.
Clematis ‘Perle d’Azur’
- Characteristics: Large, pale blue flowers with a darker bar. Blooms in late spring to early summer, with possible repeat flowering.
Clematis ‘Prince Charles’
- Characteristics: Large, deep purple flowers, often with a slightly nodding habit. Blooms heavily in mid-summer.
Clematis recta (Ground Clematis)
- Origin: Europe, Asia
- Characteristics: Upright growth with small, star-like white flowers, often used in borders.
Clematis ‘The President’
- Origin: Cultivated hybrid
- Characteristics: Deep purple to almost black flowers, very large, blooms in late spring to early summer.
Clematis tangutica (Golden Clematis)
- Origin: Northwestern China, Mongolia
- Characteristics: Lantern-shaped yellow flowers followed by attractive, fluffy seed heads.
Clematis ‘Vyvyan Pennell’
- Characteristics: Large, soft pink flowers with a darker pink central bar. Blooms in late spring to early summer, often with a second flush.
Clematis ‘Ville de Lyon’
- Origin: Cultivated hybrid
- Characteristics: Bright red, large flowers with a velvety texture, blooms in summer.
Clematis ‘Wiesneth’
- Origin: Cultivated hybrid
- Characteristics: Star-shaped, silver-blue flowers with a yellow central boss. Blooms in summer, noted for its metallic sheen.
Clematis ‘Wisley’
- Characteristics: Large, clear pink flowers with a darker central bar. Blooms in late spring to early summer.
Clematis viticella (Italian Clematis)
- Origin: Southern Europe
- Characteristics: Small, bell-shaped flowers in various colors, blooms from mid to late summer.
Clematis ×ernesti (Earlham hybrids)
- Origin: Cultivated hybrid group
- Characteristics: Early flowering, with semi-nodding, rose-pink flowers. Often blooms before leaves appear.
Clematis ‘Huldine’
- Characteristics: Delicate, semi-nodding, white flowers with a hint of mauve. Blooms from late summer into autumn.
- Origin: Cultivated hybrid
Clematis rehderiana
- Origin: China
- Characteristics: Fragrant, bell-shaped yellow flowers in late summer to autumn.