How to grow clematis: the best climbing flowers for your fences and walls

Learn how to grow clematis and it will transform your outdoor space. Clematis are a must for any garden, no matter what size. They mingle well with existing climbers and wall shrubs, and deliver spectacular flowers every year. They are perfect for disguising unsightly fences and help to blur the edges of your garden, which is a great way to make a small space feel bigger. 

Our favourites for bold, bright colour are the Viticella group. Originating in the sunny, dry climate of southern Europe, they tolerate a wide range of locations, in sun or shade, and have a long-flowering season. They're perfect for growing through other climbers that may already have flowered earlier in the season or adding a contrasting pop of colour.

Clematis can be combined with other climbing plants for a bold display. Try contrasting colours, such as a bright purple clematis with a pale pink rose. Or try training up a trellis alongside an evergreen shrub for some extra foliage. 

Read on for our top tips for growing clematis, then check out our guide to garden borders for more ways to add interest to your space. 

Where to buy clematis

Use our quicklinks below to shop clematis at your favourite retailers, or keep scrolling to see our top plant picks at the end of the article. 

Shop clematis in the UK

• Buy clematis at Amazon 
• Buy clematis at Crocus 
• Buy clematis at Dobies
• Buy clematis at Suttons
• Buy clematis at Thompson & Morgan
• Buy clematis at Waitrose Garden 
• Buy clematis at You Garden

Shop clematis in the US

• Buy clematis at Amazon
• Buy clematis at Home Depot
• Buy clematis at Lowes
• Buy clematis at Walmart

WHEN TO PLANT CLEMATIS

The best times to plant clematis are early autumn or as spring approaches, when the soil is still moist but warming up. Smaller varieties can be grown in containers, with support – use John Innes No. 3 compost with added grit. 

A good tip is to plant large-flowered summer-blooming clematis so 
their stem bases are buried 5-8cm below soil level. Plant the rest normally. Prune spindly newly planted clematis to 30cm above soil level to encourage multiple stems.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF CLEMATIS

Group 1

These flower during winter and spring and need no pruning at all. This group includes winter-flowering clematis, such as C. cirrhosa ‘Freckles’, which are best tucked up against a  warm, south-facing wall. You can find more tips on growing winter clematis in our guide. 

Group 2

These clematis produce a few large flowers in May and June, and are the most demanding to grow and the trickiest to prune. They are prone to clematis wilt (a water-stress problem) and hard to place due to their oversized flowers. Lightly prune in February, or a little later, to the highest shooting bud.

Group 3

These flower after Midsummer’s Day (21 June) but before the end of August, and many are bred from a drought-tolerant Spanish species called C. viticella (Vt on labels). Group 3 clematis are good for arches and covering fences and trellises.

HOW TO GROW CLEMATIS

Growing a late, large-flowered clematis in a container will bring versatility to your patio or terrace. In order to give your clematis the best chance, it’s important to choose a large container, which is at least 45cm deep and across, as clematis develop an extensive root system. Thin plastic pots heat up too much in summer, so a wooden half-barrel or a thick concrete container is better. Make sure it’s well drained and stand it on pot feet. 

If planting directly into the ground, water your climber, then dig a hole approximately 45cm from the wall or fence and fork in some organic matter. Make sure you have a trellis or canes for the plant to scramble up. Planting clematis in this way is an ideal option for screening unattractive fences or walls – there's more ways to add interest to your garden boundaries in our garden fence ideas feature.

Any sunny or semi-shady location works and well-drained soil is a must. They’ll tolerate light chalk to sandy acidic types, but not heavy clay or sites prone to waterlogged soil in winter. If you have this sort of soil, mixing in grit for drainage is essential. 

MONTH BY MONTH GUIDE: WHAT CLEMATIS BLOOMS WHEN

April and May belong to Clematis alpina, C macropetala and their cultivars. Undemanding and very hardy, these dainty clematis with pretty nodding flowers perform well in average soils and any aspect, so long as their roots are shaded from strong winds and sun. They are soon joined by rampant C montana, an easy-going type covered with blooms. Fragrant pale-pink ‘Mayleen’ is another good choice. If spring clematis need pruning do it immediately after they’ve flowered.

May and June sees large-flowered hybrids such as ‘Nelly Moser’ and ‘Niobe’ open their massive blooms. In late winter, trim stems above their topmost pairs of fat buds and again after the first flush of flowers. 

June to September is the time for late flowering, sun-loving Viticella hybrids such as ‘Etoile Violette’. These take over the garden as summer progresses. They need pruning hard in late winter.

Late summer and autumn means C texensis joins the party, with blooms that look like inverted tulips. These tend to die back during winter and push up from just below ground each spring. 

Midwinter heralds the muted but welcome display from evergreen C cirrhosa cultivars. These need lots of sun and a sheltered spot. The attractive ‘lemon-peel’ blooms of C orientalis and C tangutica turn into wispy seed heads.

The New Year welcomes ‘Winter Beauty’ and then vanilla-scented C armandii. Both of these evergreens need a sheltered spot. Make sure any necessary pruning is meted out promptly after flowering.

HOW TO CARE FOR CLEMATIS

Use a high-potash feed, such as a rose fertiliser, throughout the growing season to encourage better flowering. When you’re happy with the height, pinch out new growing tips to encourage even more flowering stems. Keep watering your clematis – particularly if you're growing them in a container as they don't like to dry out. 

Take extra care of your clematis during the summer months. Weed around them carefully, being sure not to disturb stems and roots. If roots are in sun, add groundcover plants to create shade. Give the plant a general-purpose liquid feed now on moist soil, and again in three weeks’ time. Mulch over the roots with well-rotted garden compost, but keep the stems clear. 

PROBLEMS TO LOOK OUT FOR

Clematis wilt is a disease caused by a fungus Calophoma clematidina and is more likely to affect large-flowered varieties. It can survive in soil and spreads when spores are splashed onto plants by rain or watering. Look out for blackening leaf stalks and wilting of the stem and if you notice these symptoms cut away the wilted stems and get rid of them. Clean your tools afterwards to prevent the spread.

You can avoid the wilt in advance by making sure the roots are planted deep in the ground and mulching the plant. Keep it well watered but don’t drown it. 

Find out more about how to mulch in our ultimate guide to mulching. 

BEAUTIFUL CLEMATIS TO GROW IN YOUR GARDEN

You're spoilt for choice with clematis. Here are some of our favourite varieties for you to grow:

CLEMATIS MONTANA 'GRANDIFLORA'

CLEMATIS ARABELLA

CLEMATIS 'PICARDY'

CLEMATIS PRINCE CHARLES

CLEMATIS X DURANDII

More plant advice:

• How to grow wisteria: add this showstopper to your space 
• How to grow peonies: get stunning summer blooms
• How to grow sweet peas: you'll love these scented flowers