When it comes to their natural habitat, Clematis (often called the “Queen of Climbers”) definitely has a “type.” In the wild, you’ll mostly find them hugging the edges of forests or soaking up the dappled light in woodland clearings. But here’s the cool part: different varieties have adapted to climates all over the globe. Because they’re so diverse, there’s a massive range in how they look—from tiny bells to dinner-plate blooms—and, more importantly for us gardeners, *when* they actually bloom.
A Season Full of Blooms
Depending on which variety you pick, you could have Clematis blooming from the first hints of spring all the way into late fall. Some overachievers even bloom twice a year! If you’re strategic about mixing and matching different species, you can keep your garden draped in flowers all season long. Just keep in mind that a staggered bloom schedule means you’ll also need to stagger your pruning sessions.
Understanding Clematis Pruning Groups
Because they bloom at such different times, we categorize Clematis into three main pruning groups. Knowing which group your plant belongs to is the secret to getting the most flowers.
Pruning Group 1 consists of the early spring bloomers that show off from April to May. These guys are low-maintenance because they don’t really need regular pruning. This group includes:
- Clematis alpina (Alpine Clematis)
- Clematis montana (Anemone Clematis)
- Various hybrids of these two
Group 2 covers the summer bloomers. These are best pruned in late fall before the plant starts putting energy into new growth. This group mainly includes:
- Clematis viticella
- Non-climbing herbaceous Clematis
- Hybrids like the famous Clematis ‘Jackmanii’
Finally, Pruning Group 3 features the varieties that often give you two shows a year. For these, you’ll want to do a light “haircut” after the first spring bloom and a more heavy-duty pruning after the second bloom in the fall. You’ll find favorites here like:
- Clematis ‘Prince Charles’
- Clematis ‘Nikolay Rubtzov’
- Clematis ‘Rouge Cardinal’
Varieties with a Long Bloom Time
If you want to skip the double-pruning duty of Group 3 but still want flowers for months, look for varieties known for their stamina. These long-bloomers are usually found within Group 3 as well. Here are four standouts that really go the distance:
- Italian Clematis (Clematis viticella)
- Clematis texensis (Scarlet Clematis)
- Clematis orientalis and tangutica (Golden Clematis)
With these varieties, the show usually starts in June and keeps going strong until September or even October. Happy planting!
