did you know?

Clematis have been cultivated in Japan and Europe for centuries. By the late 19th century, nurserymen had crossbred Asian and European varieties, resulting in hundreds of cultivars, many of which remain popular.

general maintenance:

Provide a trellis, wall, tree, or shrub on which the vine can climb, or allow it to scramble through the border. Prune 'Polish Spirit' in early spring as the buds are swelling. Remove dead growth and cut back each stem to just above two strong buds, 6?8 inches above the base of the plant.

pests/diseases:

Powdery mildew may occur.

controls:

To discourage powdery mildew, space plants for adequate air circulation and avoid wetting leaves when watering. Pick off diseased leaves where practical, and remove and destroy severely infected plants.

how to sow/plant:

In fall, choose a sunny, well-drained site, amend with compost or well-rotted manure, and place container-grown plants 3?4 feet apart. Set plants 2?4 inches deeper than they were in pots to encourage basal stem growth. If plants are bare root, soak roots in water for 30 minutes, dig a hole large enough to spread out roots, and make sure the point where the roots meet the stem is 2?4 inches below soil surface. Water after planting, and mulch to conserve moisture.

water and fertilize:

Maintain soil moisture all season. After new growth emerges, apply a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer biweekly, or use slow-release fertilizer at planting, following label directions.

garden hint:

Clematis prefer to have their roots cool and moist. Martha plants hers at the foot of a wall or established shrub with their roots in the shade and stems in full sun, or she overplants them with shallow-rooted annuals or perennials.

features:

• Attractive Flowers
• Attractive Foliage
• Attractive Fruit

garden uses:

• Climbing
• Edging
• Flowerbed borders
• Ground Cover

other uses:

• Cut Flower

combine with:

old-fashioned rambling or climbing roses like 'Albertine' or spring-flowering shrubs like red-stemmed dogwood ( 'Elegantissima').