Clematis
Clematis
Clematis
An elegant climber for trellises, successful when roots stay cool and pruning matches the group.
Checked by the editorial team – Updated July 2026
Clematis (Clematis) is a climber in the Ranunculaceae family. It is mainly grown in partial shade, sun, shade, in fertile, moist, neutral, dry soil, with a mature size around 0,15 m to 10 m. Its white, pink, red, violet flowering and hardiness to -40 deg C make it a plant to match carefully with place and purpose.
Botanical identity card
Gardener calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Planting | ||||||||||||
| Flowering | ||||||||||||
| Leaf season | ||||||||||||
| Care |
With clematis, refinement is not rarity but accuracy: the right place first, then the quiet gesture. For container, climbing, small trellis, a well-trained plant is worth more than a forced one.
– Les Jardins d’un Chatelain
Portrait
An elegant climber for trellises, successful when roots stay cool and pruning matches the group.
In a character garden, clematis is first used to build a scene: container, climbing, small trellis, Potée fleurie, border. The position should be chosen before purchase, because the plant performs better when light, soil and mature size agree.
The reference record points to partial shade, sun, shade and fertile, moist, neutral, dry soil. Respecting that match is the quiet economy of good gardening: fewer corrections, less water and cleaner pruning.
Notable varieties
| Variety or form | Useful character | Garden situation |
|---|---|---|
| Clematis ‘Abilène’ | pink – climbing – 1 m to 1,5 m | container, climbing, border |
| Clematis ‘Acropolis’ | pink – climbing – 1 m to 1,5 m | container, climbing, border |
| Clematis ‘Ai-Nor’ | pink – climbing – 2 m to 2,5 m | climbing, Haies, pergola |
| Clematis ‘Akaishi’ | red, violet – climbing – 2 m to 2,5 m | container, climbing, small trellis |
| Clematis ‘Alaina’ | pink – climbing – 1 m to 1,5 m | container, climbing, border |
| Clematis ‘Alice Fisk’ | blue, red – climbing – 2 m to 2,5 m | Grillage, climbing, Haies |
The Chatelain Method
Observe
Give sun to the top and cool shade to the roots.
Diagnose
Dry stems call for root stress and pruning checks.
Correct
Mulch the base and train new shoots.
Prevent
Identify the pruning group before cutting.
Frequently asked questions
When should Clematis be planted?
Use the calendar above as the first guide. Outside frost, heatwaves and waterlogged soil, planting works best while the ground is cool and workable.
Which exposure is best?
Clematis prefers partial shade, sun, shade. In hot climates, shelter from the harshest sun reduces stress.
What soil does it need?
The reference data points to fertile, moist, neutral, dry soil. Improve the planting hole before planting rather than correcting later.
Is Clematis hardy?
Available data indicates hardiness down to -40 deg C, to be adjusted for wind, winter wet and plant age.