Genus Clematis

Clematis Clematis integrifolia Photo/Illustration: Jennifer Benner
KLEM-ah-tiss
These early-, midseason, or late-flowering vines climb walls and cover spots with brilliant color. They are grown for their abundant flowers, which are often followed by decorative seed heads. Species include short-growing perennials, trailing shrubs, and climbers. Habit, leaf form, bloom time, and flower size and color vary greatly.
Noteworthy characteristics: Climbing species can be grown on trellises, arbors, walls, or over large shrubs or small trees. Herbaceous species can be used in a mixed or herbaceous border.
Care: Provide fertile, well-drained soil with abundant organic matter in sun or part shade. Herbaceous species need full sun. Plant climbing species with the top of the root ball 3 to 5 inches below the surface and provide strong support.
Propagation: Divide or take basal cuttings of herbaceous species in spring. Root softwood cuttings in spring, semi-ripe cuttings in early summer.
Problems: Wilt, powdery mildew, rust, fungal spots, and stem cankers are common. Scale insects, whiteflies, earwigs, aphids can occur.

Species, varieties and cultivars for genus Clematis

Clematis 'Ernest Markham' Clematis 'Ernest Markham'
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

'Ernest Markham' is a vigorous, late-flowering climber with abundant small flowers in summer. Blossoms are rich magenta, 4 inches across, with blunt-tipped sepals and light chocolate anthers.

Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’ Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

'Nellie Moser' is easy to grow, producing large, flat flowers 6 to 8 inches in diameter with distinctive, gleaming lilac bars on each petal. This clematis blooms from May to late June, with a second, less profuse bloom in mid-August. Planted in a shady spot, the cheery pink-and-mauve-striped blossoms last for weeks instead of days.

Clematis alpina
(Alpine clematis)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Alpine clematis is one of the earliest clematises to bloom, in early May. It bears relatively small but delightful nodding, bell-shaped flowers, 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter, in a great variety of colors.

Clematis crispa Clematis crispa
(Marsh clematis, Blue jasmine, Curly clematis)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

A deciduous climber native to the southeastern United States, Clematis crispa bears lavender-blue, bell-shaped flowers with curly edges in summer. Its blooms are not profuse, but their elegant shape makes this plant a good choice for trellises, growing through shrubs, or planting in damp areas. The flowers are slightly fragrant and are followed by attractive seedheads. It also makes an unusual cut flower.

Clematis integrifolia Clematis integrifolia
(Solitary clematis)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Clematis integrifolia is a herbaceous, woody-based, upright, non-climbing perennial with a dense and somewhat sprawling habit. It bears solitary, nodding, bell-shaped flowers with slightly twisted violet to blue sepals and creamy white anthers from May to July. Sporadic blooming sometimes occurs throughout the summer. Blossoms mature to attractive, feathery, silver-green, or silvery brown seed heads.

Clematis macropetala Clematis macropetala
(Downy clematis)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Downy clematis is a hardy, deciduous early bloomer that can flourish in Zone 4. The species will climb to 10 feet with a little support, and it has bell-shaped, purple-blue, almost columbine-like flowers about 1 to 2 inches, sometimes up to 4 inches in diameter, that mature to fluffy, pinkish seed heads. Blooms appear in spring and early summer, sometimes followed by a second flush in late summer to early autumn

Clematis tangutica 'Golden Tiara' Clematis tangutica 'Golden Tiara'
(Russian virgin's bower)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

'Golden Tiara' is a vigorous, late-flowering climbing vine to 15 or 20 feet tall with intense golden-yellow, bell-shaped flowers that eventually fully open to reveal crimson filaments. It blooms profusely from midsummer to late fall. The seedheads are fluffy and attractive in their own right. Native to western China.

Clematis terniflora Clematis terniflora
(Sweet autumn clematis)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This deciduous, late-flowering twining vine with deep green leaves and profuse, fragrant white flowers is easy to grow and will thrive and bloom in shade. Star-shaped blossoms are 1 inch across, appearing from late August to October and maturing to attractive, plume-like seed heads. The shiny green foliage is leathery.

Clematis texensis 'Duchess of Albany' Clematis texensis 'Duchess of Albany'
(Scarlet clematis, Leather flower, Texas clematis)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This vigorous climber can easily cover a support of 8 to 10 feet tall once established. Finely textured, dense light-green foliage makes an excellent foil for dainty, pink and carmine teardrop-shaped flowers 2 inches across. Blooms appear in early August and continue well into autumn.

Clematis viticella 'Alba Luxurians'
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

'Alba Luxurians' is a very tough, late-flowering climber with small flowers that open from midsummer to late autumn. White blossoms are sometimes faintly tinged with mauve when young, and are open, bell-shaped, single, and 2 to 3 inches across. Foliage is slightly gray-green.