Here are a few examples of how Clematis can be used. ​

. Grow on all types of fences, including stone walls. 

. Can be trained to grow up a tree trunk, tree stump, and rock piles. 

. Frame around porches and other entrances. 

. Grow up unsightly utility and light poles. 

. Screen unwanted views. 

. Grow along with a climbing rose. 

. Grow through shrubs of all kinds. 

. Grow clematis in a container on a trellis or other support. 

. Grow as a cut flower or float flowers in a bowl. 

. Clematis can be planted in the garden most any month the soil can be worked up. 

​. An established clematis will live for years with normal care. 

The best time to plant a clematis is spring, summer, or early fall in a location of five to six hours of sunlight. 

Clematis roots are long and run deep and like it cool and damp, but not soggy. A good idea is to plant annuals around the base of the clematis, plant a low-growing shrub to shade the roots, or mulch the ground around the base of the clematis plant to help keep the soil and roots cool. Loosen the soil to a depth of two feet. Mix this soil with peat and sand. Carefully set your clematis plant in the hole so the crown is one inch below the soil level when the plant was in the pot. 

Stake the plant and if possible wrap a piece of screen around this to prevent animals from breaking or eating off the stem for the year. The stake should be placed towards the trellis to train the plant to its permanent support. 

Keep your clematis well watered, do not let it dry out. In years to come always soak once a week in dry weather. Feed twice a year with a balanced granular fertilizer or a good water-soluble fertilizer. 

Prune your clematis the first Spring after planting, back to 10-12". This is very important to get your plant off to low branching and heavier flowering over the whole clematis vine. 

Apply a mulch around the base of your clematis through the winter dormant months. With proper care, your clematis will thrive and give you much enjoyment for the years to come! 

1. This group of clematis produces their flowers directly from old stems and, therefore, pruning must not be done until right after all flowering has been completed. Prune this group by removing all dead and weak stems immediately after flowering. Large established plants over 15 feet are normally not pruned, especially if they are growing in trees. All stems at this time should be tied into position on the trellis or other host. Also, if the Clematis has outgrown their space the correct and only time to prune to size is right after flowering is done. After pruning new growth will begin, this being the stems for next year's flowers. 

2. In this group all first flowering comes from last season's ripened stems. In early Spring watch for swelling leaf buds beginning to show. Cut all dead material off above these buds. Be sure all growth is tied to trellis at this time. Do not tie too tightly, so growth can begin and not be hampered by tying too tight or cracking these stems. 

3. This group bloom later and from new growth. This group should be pruned in February or March as leaf buds begin to show low on the plant. All dead material above these buds should be removed at this time. Glean out any old foliage or foliage with mildew at this time also.