Pruning Clematis

Clematis in bloom is really one of life’s true pleasures. The flowering perennial vine can quickly become the star of the garden when it blooms. Yet somehow, they are not divas. They do not overpower everything else or demand a lot of special care. They are easily trained to climb a fence, mailbox or trellis, and look just as good gently falling over the edge of a retaining wall. Best of all, their large flowers come in a wide range of colors, and different varieties bloom at different times of the year.  

The one thing they seem to be fussy about is pruning. If pruned at the wrong time of the year, they do not flower the following year, and different types of clematis like to be pruned at different times of the year. Let me assure you, though, it is not too complicated. Really, it is as easy as 1, 2, 3! Clematis come in three types. Type 1 has flowers that bloom on old growth (old growth is that part of the vine that grew the previous year). Type 2 blooms on both old and new growth, and type 3 blooms on new growth only.  

Type 1 clematis bloom in the spring. These should be pruned right after they finish blooming, no later than the first of July. This type needs very little pruning. Cut off any dead or weak-looking stems. Then cut off as much or as little as you like to maintain the shape, making each cut just above a healthy set of leaves. Some clematis varieties in this group include Elizabeth, Rubens, Pamela Jackman, Constance, Maidwell Hall, Bluebird, and White Swan.

Type 2 clematis often bloom twice, once in late spring or early summer on old growth, and then again in late summer or early fall on the new growth from that year. These should be pruned in late winter or early spring. Remove any dead or weak stems. Cut back each branch about 6-8 inches, just above a strong leaf bud. Buds will just look like little bumps at this point. After the first bloom is done, prune off the spent flowers, again cutting just above a healthy set of leaves. This will encourage a second bloom. Some type 2 clematis include Henryi, Cardinal Wyszynski, Kilian Donahue, Rosalie, Niobe, Nelly Moser, Josephine, and Crystal Fountain. 

Type 3 clematis should be pruned in late winter or early spring only and should be pruned aggressively. Whack away! Well, that might be overstating it, but the whole plant should be cut back to about 12 inches from the ground, again, cutting just above a bud set. If you do not prune everything back, it will only flower near the top of the vine. This type includes Durandii, Avant Garde, Giselle, Chelsea, Rough Cardinal, Comtesse de Bochaud, Jackmanii, and Sweet Autumn Clematis, among others. 

Note that all clematis types should be pruned back hard to 12 inches the first spring after planting. Types 1 and 2 will not bloom that year, but you will get a full, healthy, and more vigorous plant if you prune them hard the first year.