My Blooming Clematis at the Farm
The clematis is blooming beautifully at the farm this season.
I’ve always loved these flowering vines, and over the years I have grown many varieties of this plant. When I bought my Bedford, New York property, I knew I wanted to build a long, winding pergola and have clematis growing all over it. After the pergola was constructed, I concentrated on creating a palette of blue-flowering cultivars. Each year, the floral display gets better and better - and this summer, nearly every post is completely wrapped in stunning shades of lavender, blue and purple clematis.
Enjoy these photos.
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- There are several different clematis varieties planted under the pergola, but each pair of posts supports the same kind.
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- Clematis is a genus of about 300-species within the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. The name Clematis comes from the Greek word “klematis,” meaning vine.
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- Clematis, pronounced KLEH-muh-tis, are native to China and Japan and known to be vigorous growers.
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- The standard clematis flower has six or seven petals, measuring five to six inches across. Colors range from lavender to deep purple, white to wine red, and even a few in yellow.
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- For this area, I chose various shades of purple, blue and lavender.
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- Some of the cultivars grown here include “Blue Angel’, ‘Jackmanii’, ‘Parisienne’, “Blue Ravine” and ‘Eyers Gift’.
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- Some of the flowers are very light – almost white – with interesting colored centers.
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- Here is another very light colored clematis flower with more slender petals.
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- Many are lightly scented. Flowers vary in shape and form. They can be flat, tubular or bell-shaped and can be large or as small as one-inch wide.
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- The uprights for this pergola are antique granite posts from China originally used as grape supports. They’re perfect for use as posts because they don’t rot over time like wood.
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- Steel wire is wrapped around each post, so the climbing tendrils of the clematis vines could attach easily. The wire is visible behind this flower, but most of the wire is hidden by the clematis vines when in bloom.
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- Known as the “Queen of the Climbers”, Clematis plants will train onto trellises and fences, or arch gracefully over doorways.
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- Some clematis cultivars will bloom in partial shade, but to really thrive, they need at least six hours of sun each day.
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- Once established, clematis should be watered about an inch or so weekly, and more deeply during dry spells.
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- Most species are known as clematis, but it has also been called traveler’s joy, virgin’s bower, leather flower, or vase vine.
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- If the soil tends to be acidic, sweeten it periodically with limestone or a little wood ash.
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- The roots of clematis should be kept shaded to keep them cool and moist. This can be done using low growing plants or with two to three inches of mulch around the base of the plant to help retain the soil moisture.
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- Clematis prefer moist, well-drained soil that’s neutral to slightly alkaline in pH.
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- It is important to understand how each cultivar blooms in order to properly prune them. Every variety should be cut back to about four or five inches from the ground in late winter or early spring the first year after it is planted – to promote a bushier, stronger, tighter growth habit.
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- The timing and location of clematis flowers vary – spring blooming clematis flower on side shoots of the old season’s stems. Summer and fall blooming vines flower on the ends of only new stems.
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- This is Clematis viticella, which has slightly fragrant, bell-shaped flowers that bloom from summer to fall.
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- It typically grows to six-feet tall and features single, nodding flowers with recurved tips.
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- They grow profusely in this location – look at all the gorgeous blooms.
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- Across from my undulating pergola, at the base of my bald cypress trees, we’ve planted more clematis.
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- We use twine to support these climbing vines against the trunks of the handsome trees.
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- Clematis plants are also heavy feeders and benefit from a low nitrogen fertilizer such as 5-10-10 in spring when the buds are about two-inches long. Alternate feedings every four to six weeks with a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer and then continue this alternate feeding until the end of the growing season. Remember – if you eat, your plants should eat also.
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- It can take several years for a clematis vine to mature and begin flowering. To shorten the wait, purchase a plant that’s at least two years old.
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- The blooms appear constantly for many weeks making their everblooming nature a must-have in any garden.
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- From the outside of the pergola, one can see the vines climbing on each post above the tall stems of the lilies that will soon be bursting with bold orange color.
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- Every year, these clematis vines look more and more beautiful. If you don’t already have clematis in your garden, I hope this inspires you to plant one or two or three…
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