How to Grow and Care for Clematis (Leather Flower)

Clematis is most well-known as a flowering vine that also includes trailing and shrub varieties. Clematis, also known as leather flower, grows best in loose, well-draining soil and requires full sunlight, neutral pH soil, and roots that are protected from intense heat. Given the right conditions, clematis will bloom from the beginning of the summer until early autumn.

Gardeners love these perennial plants for their beautiful blooms but keep in mind that the plant is toxic to people and animals. Plant it in a location where you can avoid skin contact and somewhere it won’t be ingested by curious pets. 

Clematis Care

To grow clematis, follow these care requirements:

• Plant in well-draining soil or potting mix.
• Choose a location that receives at least four to six hours of sunlight.
• Water regularly; usually once per week or as needed to keep the soil moist.
• Apply fertilizer regularly during the spring and summer months.

Planting

Clematis requires plenty of sunshine for abundant bloom production, but the roots must be protected from intense heat. These plants do well when planted in a location that receives full sun in the morning and filtered sun or shade in the afternoon. 

Follow this rule of thumb when growing clematis: warm on top, cool on the bottom. To accomplish that, give the plant’s foliage the opportunity to receive plenty of sun but when planting clematis, ensure that the top of the root system is at least four inches below the surface of the soil. This will help to keep the delicate root structure cool and protected from the heat of the day.

Light

Clematis plants require full sun conditions and should receive six or more hours of full sun each day. However, at least four hours of sunlight is necessary for healthy growth—too much direct sun and intense heat can have a detrimental effect on clematis. For this reason, morning sun is preferred over afternoon sun. 

Soil

Clematis should be planted in loamy soil that is fast-draining. To support the abundant blooms that this vine is known for, ensure that the soil is nutrient-rich. Amend the soil with compost to improve quality or water drainage. 

Water

For healthy growth, clematis must be watered regularly. The frequency will depend on environmental conditions, but water as soon as the soil begins to dry out. Overly wet conditions for this plant, including its foliage, can contribute to a fungal condition known as clematis wilt. 

Temperature and Humidity

These native North American perennials thrive in USDA growing zones 4 to 9. Keep in mind that the hotter the temperatures, the more important it is to protect the root system from the heat. Use ground cover plants or mulch to provide a barrier from intense afternoon sun in hot-weather climates. 

The plant is not especially sensitive to humidity levels, except that you’ll need to be more cautious about not allowing the foliage to stay overly wet when humidity is high. 

Fertilizer

Clematis have a reputation for being heavy feeders, so you’ll need to fertilize regularly throughout the growing season to support peak bloom production. In the spring, give the plant a low-nitrogen fertilizer, like 5-10-10. Throughout the growing season, fertilize every four to six weeks with a well-balanced formula, such as 10-10-10, or alternate with a low-nitrogen formula if desired. 

Types of Clematis 

There are about 300 types of clematis, exhibiting differences in flower size, shape, and foliage. The varieties are divided into three groups based on bloom time. Group 1 are varieties that bloom in the spring, Group 2 varieties are repeat bloomers, and Group 3 are summer or fall blooming varieties. 

Here are some of the most popular types of clematis from each group:

‘Apple Blossom’: This evergreen Group 1 clematis blooms in the spring. Although its pale pink blossoms are small (about 2 inches across), they appear in a large flush that makes a beautiful addition to a spring flower garden.

‘Dr. Ruppel Clematis’: Large, pink blooms measuring about six inches across are the main attraction of this Group 2 clematis variety.

‘Jackman’s Clematis’: This large-flowered type of clematis falls into Group 3 and blooms from summer into early fall. The vine produces deep blue or purple blooms that are about 5 inches in diameter. 

Pruning

The first spring after you plant clematis, you should prune the vine back to about 12 inches from the ground, making the cut just above a pair of healthy, strong leaf buds. This initial hard prune is necessary to help the plant produce more than a single flowering stem. Note that if your new clematis is already growing several stems, you can skip the hard prune. 

For yearly maintenance, prune clematis according to which group the variety falls into. 

Propagating Clematis

The fastest and most common way to propagate clematis is with cuttings. Here’s how to do it:

1. Gather the following supplies: Snips or scissors, a small pot (3 to 4 inches in diameter), soilless potting mix, a plastic bag, and rooting hormone. 
2. Just below a leaf node, use the snips or scissors to remove a 4 to 6-inch-long cutting of new, green growth. If there are more than one or two leaves on your cutting, remove any auxiliary leaves. Dip the cut end into the rooting hormone.  
3. Fill the pot with the soil mix and create a small planting hole for the cutting. Place the cutting in the hole, with the leaves above the soil line, and add additional soil mix as needed. Lightly water.
4. Cover the pot with a plastic bag and place it in a location that receives bright, indirect light. Water as needed to keep the soil moist.
5. After four weeks, very gently tug on the cutting to check for resistance from newly formed roots. Once there is evidence that the cutting has rooted, you can transplant it to a larger pot.  
6. Continue to grow the plant in a pot for the following growing season. After that, you can harden the plant and transplant it outdoors. 

Overwintering

Overwinter clematis plants by spreading a thick layer of mulch, straw, hay, or similar material around the base of the plant. Doing so provides much-needed insulation for the roots as temperatures drop. Many types of clematis are cold hardy to USDA zone 4. 

Common Plant Diseases 

Clematis wilt is one of the most common plant diseases that gardeners contend with when growing this perennial. It’s a fungal infection that causes the plant’s stems and leaves to suddenly shrivel. Proper soil conditions—moist but never soggy with a neutral pH—can help to reduce susceptibility if the spores of the fungus responsible for clematis wilt come into contact with your plant. 

How to Get Clematis to Bloom

You can encourage clematis to bloom by providing the plant with the right growing conditions, pruning it appropriately, and fertilizing regularly. 

Bloom Months

Most clematis plants bloom between March and September, depending on the variety you choose. In areas with long growing seasons and plenty of sunshine, it’s not uncommon to have two or three bloom cycles for a clematis.

How Long Does Clematis Bloom?

Clematis flowers last for several weeks before wilting. The sheer volume of flowers produced by a healthy vine ensures that you’ll have a spectacular show during the peak of blooming activity.

Clematis plants don’t require deadheading in order to rebloom. In the case of repeat blooming varieties, flowers form first on old wood followed by a second set on new wood, so deadheading the first set of blooms won’t have an impact on the appearance of the second flush of flowers. 

What Do Clematis Flowers Look and Smell Like?

The characteristic look of a clematis flower is a relatively flat, saucer-like bloom with six or seven ‘petals,’ which are actually the plant’s colored sepals—these sepals form the blossom and are typically purple, pink, and blue, but can also be red, yellow, or white.

Large-flowered clematis have blooms that measure 5 to 10 inches in diameter, with small-flowered clematis producing a smaller, daintier blossom. Large-flowered clematis rarely have a fragrance, while small-flowered clematis can be much more aromatic depending on the variety.

How to Encourage More Blooms

To keep your clematis full of blooms, do not prune them incorrectly. Some clematis varieties bloom from the prior year’s growth—pruning too much old growth will greatly reduce flower production for the growing season. A much-circulated piece of gardening advice applies to cultivating clematis: If it blooms before June, don’t prune. 

On the other hand, late-blooming clematis varieties that bloom from mid-summer on require new growth for flower production. These plants should be pruned in late winter or early spring before the growing season begins. To further support the production of clematis flowers, fertilize the plant regularly.

Caring for Clematis After It Blooms

After clematis vines bloom, the leathery green foliage will remain. You can deadhead the spent blooms to keep the plant looking tidy or simply allow them to wilt and drop off. 

Common Problems With Clematis

Clematis plants are generally straightforward to grow, but be alert for these common problems so that you can remedy the situation as quickly as possible:

Drooping or blackening of leaves and stems 

Drooping, shriveled or black leaves, and stems are the telltale sign of clematis wilt, a fungal infection that invades the soft tissue of this vine. There is no way to undo the damage to the stems and foliage, but you may be able to save your clematis by cutting the plant to the ground if it has strong roots. You’ll sacrifice any remaining blooms for the growing season, but have the opportunity for the plant to produce healthy, new growth the following year.

White patches on leaves and stems

If you notice white spots or patches across the foliage of your clematis vine, you’re likely dealing with powdery mildew. The good news is that it rarely proves fatal for the plant, but it can be unsightly. It’s usually caused by too much moisture and not enough airflow. In the appropriate season for your type of clematis, lightly prune to ensure there is good circulation around the plant. To deal with the powdery mildew infection, apply a fungicide according to the label’s directions. 

Holes in leaves

If you notice holes in the leaves of your clematis, a common garden pest is likely making a meal out of your flowering vine. The most frequent culprits are slugs, snails, caterpillars, and earwigs. Carefully inspect the leaves and surrounding area to narrow down the garden pest at work. Use a topical spray or homemade solution to treat the vine for the appropriate pest.