Pruning Clematis
Keep your clematis down to size, looking good and flowering with proper pruning.
Prune early blooming clematis like alpine, Montana, and downy clematis after flowering. Pruning at any other time removes the flower buds that form on the plants in summer prior to spring bloom. Remove only the older and weak stems to the ground and reduce the overall size as needed.
Some clematis like Bee’s Jubilee, Nelly Moser, and Henry produce flowers on last year’s growth and a second flush of flowers on the current season’s growth. Remove all weak and dead stems on these in late winter or early spring. Reduce the height of overly long stems by pruning these back to a set of healthy buds.
Late flowering varieties like Jackman, Italian, golden, and sweet autumn clematis flower only on the current season’s growth. Prune these back to one or two feet above the ground in late winter or early spring as needed.
A bit more information: All clematis are divided into the groups described above. You will often read pruning guidelines for clematis listed in one of these groups. Group 1 includes the Clematis that bloom on old growth. Group 2 includes Nelly Moser and others that bloom on old and new growth and Group 3 are those that bloom on the current season’s growth.
Related
Article
Categories
Upcoming Live Events
& Webinars
April 3, 2024
Garden Trends
Franklin Public Library, Franklin, WI
April 10, 2024
FREE WEBINAR
Container Gardening Throughout the Year
Register now
April 11, 2024
FREE WEBINAR
7 Steps to Managing Water Where it Falls in Your Yard
Register now
April 17, 2024
Landscaping for Birds:
A Gardener’s Perspective
Glendale, WI
April 18, 2024
Be a Waterwise Gardener
Golden Rondelle Theater, Racine, WI
Register now
April 20, 2024
Pruning Hydrangeas and Other Shrubs
Pasquesi Home & Gardens, Lake Bluff, IL
April 27, 2024
Ridges & Rivers Book Festival
Viroqua, WI
April 28, 2024
Flowering Trees and Shrubs
Ebert's Greenhouse Village, Ixonia, WI
May 1, 2024
FREE WEBINAR
Ornamental Fruits and Vegetables
Register now
May 4, 2024
Garden U 2024
New Richmond, WI
Register now
May 9, 2024
FREE WEBINAR
How to Plant Your Rain Garden
Register now
May 11, 2024
Ask The Plant Doctor Q & A
Ebert's Greenhouse Village, Ixonia, WI
May 12, 2024
Ask The Plant Doctor Q & A
Ebert's Greenhouse Village, Ixonia, WI
May 18, 2024
Ask The Plant Doctor Q & A
Ebert's Greenhouse Village, Ixonia, WI
June 1, 2024
Selecting, Planting, Pruning and Caring for Hydrangeas
Ebert's Greenhouse Village, Ixonia, WI
June 5, 2024
FREE WEBINAR
Under-Appreciated Pollinators
Register now
WATCH ON-DEMAND WEBINARS
Learn More