• slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide

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.

Upcoming Live Events
& Webinars


March 27, 2024
FREE WEBINAR

How to Start a Garden for Beginners
Register now

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 9, 2024
FREE WEBINAR

How to Plant Your Rain Garden
Register now

WATCH ON-DEMAND WEBINARS

Learn More

Book an Appearance

Learn More

Enter to Win The Birds & Blooms' Ultimate Gardening Guide !

ENTER NOW