Featured Expert
Mike Zins
Extension Horticulturist
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
Chanhassen, MN

Q: I'd like to grow a clematis. What do I need to know to grow one?

A: Well, clematis will grow quite well for us in Minnesota. Number one, there are different types of clematis. Probably the most successful clematis we grow are the 'Jackmani' types, which are these types right here, that usually flower in summer or into the fall, and they require the least amount of care. They don't have to be winter protected or anything like that. Clematis generally like warm tops, and they like cool feet. And you'll notice we have the mulch over the bottom of the roots, which makes a real big difference. They like a pH between six and seven, and that means just a slightly acidic soil, if you can give it. The problem is most people want to put them next to their chimney or someplace like that where the pH is high, and that is kind of a problem. They need some kind of a support. They have tendrils on them that will actually twine around into whatever structure they go on. In the case of the arboretum here, we have screening put on the trellises here, so they actually twine through the trellises. They have modified tendrils and that's how they anchor, and that's really important in understanding the vine that you're dealing with. So, with that in mind, they need about six to eight hours of sunlight a day to flower well. If they have less than that, they may not do well. A lot of people have problems where they don't flower because they're in too much shade.

images: two variety of clematis

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Last updated: Tuesday, February 01, 2005