Clematis
A climbing vine best known for the classic principle 'roots in shade, top in sun': keep the base of the plant cool and shaded while its climbing growth reaches up into full sun. Needs a support structure to climb, moderate water, and dislikes root disturbance once established, so choose its position carefully and then leave it alone. Clematis wilt, a well-documented fungal disease causing sudden stem collapse, is a real risk worth watching for.
- Sun
- full sun
- Water
- moderate
- Spacing
- 90cm
- Difficulty
- intermediate
- Grows in
- Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
- Mature height
- 3m
- Flowering season
- Jan, Oct, Nov, Dec
- Attracts wildlife
- Bees
- Evergreen
- No, deciduous
- Common diseases
- Clematis wilt
- Common pests
- Aphids, Slugs and snails
When to plant by region
In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson and Tasman: March-April and September-October. In Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: September-October.
Growing stages
Germination & planting
- Follow the classic 'roots in shade, top in sun' principle: shade the base of the plant while letting the climbing growth reach into full sun
- Install a trellis, obelisk or other support before planting, since clematis needs something to climb from the start
- Choose the planting spot with care; clematis dislikes root disturbance once established and isn't a plant to move later
Establishment
- Water regularly while roots establish; this is a moderate-water climber
- Watch for slugs and snails, which can shred young shoots overnight
- Avoid disturbing the roots once the plant is settled in
Vegetative growth
- Keep tying in and guiding new growth onto its support structure
- Aphids can cluster on soft new shoots
- Watch for sudden wilting or collapse of individual stems, a sign of clematis wilt, a well-documented fungal disease
Flowering
- Bees visit the flowers; avoid spraying open blooms
- Continue watching for clematis wilt; remove and destroy affected stems promptly if it appears
- Deadhead spent flowers or leave them to form seed heads, depending on variety and preference
Dieback & dormancyWinter
- Many popular garden clematis are deciduous and die back over winter
- Winter is the main pruning time for many varieties, though the right timing and method depends on the specific type
- Keep the root zone shaded and undisturbed; this stays important throughout the plant's life, not just at planting