Clematis offer showy, colorful blooms in a huge array of colors.  These vines need support for their twining stems.  They are also effectively grown through other shrubs, or allowed to cascade as a groundcover.  The smaller cultivars are perfect in containers.

Most Clematis will bloom well if cut to the ground annually.  However, there are three basic pruning groups for Clematis, and flowering will be extended using these methods.  In simplified terms they are:

GROUP 1:  Early-flowering types bloom on old wood, and do not require any pruning, except as needed after flowering to tidy established plants.

GROUP 2:  Many Group 2 Clematis bloom on old and new wood.  To insure the first flush of flowers, do not prune until after the initial flowering phase.  Then lightly prune to encourage new growth and a second flush of blooms. 

GROUP 3:  Blooms on new wood.  Prune hard in early spring to a pair of buds close to ground level.

Height: 10-12'
Climbing Method: Twining Leaf
Bloom Months: 6-8
Zone: 4
Pruning Group: 3
Flowers: red-purple
Light Requirement: full sun, part shade

Red to reddish-purple flowers have wavy margins.

4379

Height: 6-8'
Climbing Method: Twining Leaf
Bloom Months: 5-6, 8-9
Zone:4
Pruning Group: 2
Flowers: pink
Light Requirements: full sun, part shade

Light pink flowers have carmine bars.

4211

Height: 10'
Climbing Method: Twining Leaf
Bloom Months: 6-9
Zone: 4
Pruning Group: 3
Flowers: pink
Light Requirement: full sun, part shade

Velvety pink flowers have yellow anthers.
4-5" blooms.

4214

Height: 8-10'
Climbing Method: Twining Leaf
Bloom Months: 5-6, 8-9
Zone: 4
Pruning Group: 3
Flowers: violet-blue
Light Requirement:  full sun, part shade

Vigorous grower.  The violet-blue petals overlap.

4218

Height: 10-12'
Climbing Method: Twining Leaf
Bloom Months: 7-9
Zone: 4
Pruning Group: 3
Flowers:  magenta-red
Light Requirement: full sun

Vigorous grower with large magenta-red flowers
with pale yellow anthers.

4220

Height: 10-13'
Climbing Method: twining leaf
Bloom Months: 6-9
Zone: 4
Pruning Group: 3
Flowers: dark purple
Light Requirements: full sun, part shade

Velvety, dark purple flowers have creamy yellow anthers.  Floriferous and long blooming.

4223

Height: 6-8'
Climbing Method: Twining Leaf
Bloom Months: 5-6, 8-9
Zone: 4
Pruning Group: 2
Flowers: violet
Light Requirements: full sun

Large violet flowers with red-purple bars
and dark red anthers.

4243

Height: 8'
Climbing Method: Twining Leaf
Bloom Months: 5-6, 8-9
Zone: 4
Pruning Group: 2
Flowers: purple
Light Requirements: full sun, part shade

Rich, velvety-purple flowers have red anthers.

4382

Height: 6-8'
Climbing Method: Twining Leaf
Bloom Months: 5-6, 8-9
Zone: 4
Pruning Group: 2
Flowers: red
Light Requirements:  full sun, part shade

Vigorous grower with deep pink flowers
and cerise bars.

4235

Height: 6-8'
Climbing Method: Twining Leaf
Bloom Months: 5-9
Zone: 4
Pruning Group: 2
Flowers: red
Light Requirements: full sun, part shade

Prolific bloomer all season.  Deep red flowers
with yellow anthers.

5958

Height: 6-8'
Climbing Method: Twining Leaf
Bloom Months: 7-9
Zone: 5
Pruning Group: 2
Flowers: mauve-blue
Light Requirements: full sun, part shade

Large, mauve-blue flowers with yellow anthers.

4197

Height: 6-8'
Climbing Method: Twining Leaf
Bloom Months: 7-9
Zone: 4
Pruning Group: 2
Flowers: Double Purple
Light Requirements: full sun, part shade

Red flowers with unusually showy pink petaloid stamens, which gives the illusion of a double flower.

4247

Height: 10-12'
Climbing Method: Twining Leaf
Bloom Months: 7-9
Zone: 4
Pruning Group: 3
Flowers: plum-purple
Light Requirements: full sun

Dark, plum-purple flowers.

4222

Height: 6-8'
Climbing Method: Twining Leaf
Bloom Months: 7-9
Zone: 4
Pruning Group: 3
Flowers: pink
Light Requirements: part shade

Shell-pink flowers have slightly ruffled margins.
Will grow in full sun, but partial shade will provide more
vigorous growth and deeper flower color.

4249

Height: 10-12'
Climbing Method: Twining Leaf
Bloom Months: 7-9
Zone: 4
Pruning Group: 2
Flowers: white
Light Requirements: full sun, part shade

A long-time favorite, Henryi has large white flowers
with prominent brown anthers.

4228

Height: 10-12'
Climbing Method: Twining Leaf
Bloom Months: 7-10
Zone: 4
Pruning Group: 3
Flowers: white
Light Requirements: full sun, part shade

Smaller flowers (3") are borne in profusion most
of the season.  Creamy white blooms, with a light
lavender reverse.

4231

Height: 10-12'
Climbing Method: Twining Leaf
Bloom Months: 6-7, 8-9
Zone: 4
Pruning Group: 3
Flowers: purple
Light Requirements: full sun, part shade

Widely grown cultivar with velvety, royal
purple flowers.  Vigorous grower.

4230

Height: 8-10'
Climbing Method: Twining Leaf
Bloom Months: 6, 8-9
Zone: 4
Pruning Group: 2
Flowers: dark blue
Light Requirements: full sun, part shade

Large, deep blue flowers.

4233

Height: 8-14'
Climbing Method: Twining Leaf
Bloom Months: 6-7, 9
Zone: 4
Pruning Group: 2
Flowers: white
Light Requirements: full sun, part shade

Large white flowers with cream anthers.

4235

Height: 8-10'
Climbing Method: Twining Leaf
Bloom Months: 6, 8-9
Zone: 4
Pruning Group: 2 or 3
Flowers: ruby red
Light Requirements: full sun, part shade

Ruby red flowers have prominent yellow anthers.

4245

Height: 6-8'
Climbing Method: Twining Leaf
Bloom Months: 5-6, 8-9
Zone: 4
Pruning Group: 2
Flowers: rose-pink
Light Requirements: full sun, part shade

Rosy-pink flowers have a darker pink edge.

4248

Height: 10'
Climbing Method: Twining Stems
Bloom Months: 5-6, 8
Zone: 4
Pruning Group: 2
Flowers: creamy green
Light Requirements: full sun, part shade

Large, creamy white flowers may become
tinged with green in cooler weather.

4210

Height: 8-10'
Climbing Method: Twining Leaf
Bloom Months: 5-6, 8-9
Zone: 4
Pruning Group: 2
Flowers: purple-blue
Light Requirements: full sun, part shade

Purple blue flowers have dark red anthers.

4260

Height: 10-20'
Climbing Method: Twining Leaf
Bloom Months: 8-9
Zone: 5
Pruning Group: 3
Flowers: white
Light Requirements: full sun, part shade

Beautiful white flowers needing full sun or partial shade.

4246

Height: 6-8'
Climbing Method: Twining Leaf
Bloom Months: 6-9
Zone: 4
Pruning Group: 3
Flowers: pink
Light Requirements: full sun, part shade

Tulip-shaped, 2" pink blooms face outward
on long stems.  Will bloom prolifically most
of the season when established.

4376