How to Grow & Train Clematis Vines Successfully

Gorgeous, unearthly blooms, Clematis are vining flowering perennials that become smothered in colorful unusual blossoms and are reliable vertical ornamentals!

So easy to grow, so beautiful, and so very useful in the landscape. Both deciduous and evergreen Clematis species exist, with a wide variety of bloom times! There are extremely cold hardy and some extremely heat tolerant varieties available today!

Perennial Clematis plants bloom year after year, and Clematis vines become woody with age, making them perfect for a permanent spot in your garden!

How to Train Clematis Vertically
How to Train Clematis Horizontally
Clematis in the Garden and Beyond
Clematis Growing & Care
Dividing Clematis
Clematis Pruning

How to Train Clematis Vertically

Clematis are very good at climbing by themselves! While they don't have sticky feet or adhere to surfaces like Boston Ivy, they twine their stems around any foothold given to hang onto and climb.

You can use soft cloth strips or twist ties to help encourage them to grow where you want them to. Provide a sturdy trellis to encourage it to grow upwards, or use a half-inch or smaller means of support for them to wind around.

Fishing line
Twine
Wooden or metal support
Chicken wire
Lattice

Choose a strong section of growth and gently tie it to a section of your trellis or arbor. The following year, remove that tie and move it up further to the new growth to secure this where you want it to grow!

Often, Clematis vines can be trained on a trellis or trained to grow up against a structure to add privacy, cover eyesores, save space, and even be used as thrillers in containers and planters!

Train your ornamental flowering vine on:

Mailbox or birdhouse stake
Column by your porch or deck supports
Stair or porch railings
Fences
Trellis or Arbor
Any small frame or support in a container - vertical thrillers
A gutter downspout (They'll love the extra moisture and not get into trouble)
The side of a building using wall anchors and wire/mesh
Train around either side of a window (window box!)
Grow Clematis and Roses or other flowering vines together

How to Train Clematis Horizontally

One interesting way to use a Clematis is to allow it to grow without support or as a groundcover or allow them to sprawl over evergreen shrubs, or wind themselves through leggy shrubs - just like jewelry for your plain landscape plants!

Let ramble over bare or mulched ground as ground cover
Living mulch
Let cascade down over rock walls or retaining walls
Let meander and cover a hard-to-mow hillside or slope
Create banks of color around garden edges
Line pathways
Spillers in hanging baskets or patio pots

Clematis in the Garden and Beyond

Bush-style Stand by Me Clematis is a fantastic upright mounding perennial that won't climb! Tuck this purple gem into planters and among other perennials to enjoy their unique blooms and structure! Not only do these lovelies attract pollinators and should be a standard addition to butterfly gardens, but they're also great in perennial gardens and cottage borders. Bird-Friendly, the thick vines are great cover and nesting, while some varieties produce fruits/seeds birds like to eat.

Shorter-growing Clematis can also be grown in containers or directly in the ground as smaller accents!

Add some dreamy white Clematis to your Moon garden!
Spruce up a shade garden with vertical or horizontal shade-tolerant vines!
Add to your cutting garden to snip a few stems for your floral arrangements!
Even the unique seed pods look great in dried décor!

Clematis Growing & Care

Clematis are relatively easy to care for when the proper conditions are given. Whenever the ground is workable, Clematis can be planted. When growing Clematis, the proper time and method of planting will make caring for the plant much easier.

At least six hours of sun per day is ideal
Mulch well - Clematis like to have cool soil
Provide consistent water; mature vines can use 2 gallons per day when in flower
Plant at least 6-12 inches away from the support so the roots have plenty of room
Organically enriched, well-drained soil

The best thing to do when growing Clematis is to mulch heavily near the base of the plant. This will allow the soil to maintain moisture and also provide shade for the root system.

Container-grown Clematis can be planted all throughout the growing season. They will need the first season to establish and can be a bit slow at the start, but a bit of patience as the wait is well worth it. Bareroot Clematis should be planted in the autumn.

Don't forget the Nature Hills Root Booster for lifelong root support!

Tips for planting or transplanting:

First, install a trellis or some sort of support that your vine can climb up as it grows. Dig a hole that is twice the diameter of the root ball and only about as deep to accommodate the roots.

Spread the roots out and carefully backfill with the same soil that was excavated from the hole. Then completely saturate the soil to eliminate any air pockets and settle the soil well. Important to add 3-4 inches of mulch over the root zone to keep the soil cool and moist which is what Clematis love to perform best.

Your Clematis needs regularly watered through its first summer. After the first year, your plant's roots will be well established and only need water during extended drought.

Dividing Clematis

Dividing Clematis is one form of propagation of the plant and consists of dividing it at the roots into two or more plants. When dividing Clematis plants, it is important to know what species the Clematis is.

The best time to divide Clematis is just before new growth will appear, and after the plant emerges from dormancy.

Many Clematis plants are climbers and will be attached to a fence or other such medium, some able to achieve great heights. It is best to simply cut the plant off, leaving at least three to four good buds per stem. Once the stems have been trimmed, the jumble of roots should be divided and each plant separated from the main plant should have an even amount of roots.

Now, take the separate plants and transplant them into the garden wherever desired. It is best to plant the newly divided plants deeply into the soil, to give the weakened roots more protection from drought.

Clematis Pruning

Pruning your Clematis plant is the most important factor when considering how and when a Clematis will bloom. While pruning Clematis improperly won't kill the plant, it will likely delay the bloom. Not pruning the plant at all still results in flowers, but proper pruning will ensure you get to enjoy more and longer-lasting blooms.

All Clematis should be cut back the first early spring after planting. After this, the time and amount of pruning depend on the type of Clematis being grown.

There are 3 types of pruning that you should be aware of depending upon which type of Clematis you have:

Pruning Group 1: Bloom on old wood

For Clematis that bloom on the old wood, do not prune until they are done flowering. Then you can reduce the size, and remove the oldest thickest stems but only right after they bloom.

Pruning Group 2: Bloom on new and old wood

Clematis pruning of the second group, consisting of varieties that bloom on both current and previous year's growth. Begin in early spring with a light pruning. When pruning, keep variations in stem length to produce a better-balanced plant. Any weak or dead wood should be removed at this time as well.

Pruning Group 3: Bloom on new wood

Clematis are later bloomers, the flowers form on new growth (that current growing season) can be cut down to 12-18" in late winter or early spring and the new growth develops from the stems you leave. This results in blooms near the base and have flowers sporadically up the height of the entire plant.

Now you can sit back and watch your vine climb and produce its beloved flowers!

Growing a Clematis vine is a fun and easy activity for any gardener. Plus, adding these gorgeous blossoms is an easy way to dress up any place in the garden without taking up much space!

Take a look at some of these more unusual standouts in the Clematis family -

Princess Diana Clematis - Unusual 3-petalled blooms in vivid magenta
Avant Garde Clematis - Dramatic Burgundy blooms with lighter, frilly centers
Regal® Diamantina™ Clematis - Double violet petals for a dramatic effect!
Blue Light Clematis - Double bloom in pale lavender-blue & two types of petals!
Guernsey Cream Clematis - Large, pure white petals & golden center.
My Angel Clematis - 4-petals with yellow interior, red exteriors & unusual centers
Sweet Summer Love - A fragrant reddish-purple 4-petalled Clematis

So get thinking of all the different places in your landscape that you can add Clematis! Then head over to NatureHills.com to choose the ones perfect for you!

Spring shipments will occur when planting can happen in your area, and container plants can be successfully transplanted all throughout the growing season, using Plant Sentry™ to follow all plant material regulations.

Browse our selection of Clematis for sale and place your order at Nature Hills Nursery today!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I train clematis to climb a trellis for the first time?

To train clematis on a trellis for the first time, choose a sturdy support with openings no larger than half an inch so the vine has something to wind around. Select a strong, healthy stem and gently secure it to the trellis using a soft cloth strip or twist tie, guiding it in the direction you want it to grow. The following year, remove that original tie and reattach it higher up on the new growth to continue encouraging upward progress. Keep redirecting stems each season and the vine will become increasingly self-sufficient as it matures.

What is the best way to get clematis to start climbing on its own?

Clematis naturally twines its stems around any available support, so your main job is simply providing the right structure. Use supports that are half an inch or smaller in diameter, such as fishing line, twine, chicken wire, or thin wooden stakes, since the vines need something slender enough to wrap around. To get things started, select a strong stem and gently secure it to your trellis or support with a soft cloth strip or twist tie, then remove and reposition that tie to newer growth the following season. Choose your support structure early in the growing season so the vine has something to grab onto as it puts on new growth.

How do I attach clematis vines to a trellis without damaging the stems?

Use soft cloth strips or twist ties to gently secure clematis stems to your trellis, avoiding any material that could cut into or constrict the vine as it grows. Choose a strong, healthy section of growth and loosely fasten it to your support structure, leaving a little slack so the stem has room to thicken. The following year, remove that tie and move it up to the newest growth to keep training the vine in the direction you want. Always check ties periodically throughout the season and loosen them if they begin to dig into the stem.

How many clematis plants should I plant along a single trellis for good coverage?

For good coverage on a standard trellis, plan on planting one clematis every 3 to 4 feet, so a 12-foot trellis would comfortably support three plants. Clematis vines spread 2 to 6 feet wide depending on the variety, and mixing two or three different cultivars with staggered bloom times will give you continuous color from spring through fall. Choose varieties suited to your hardiness zone and make sure your trellis supports are no wider than half an inch so the vines can grip securely. Plant in a sunny to partially shaded spot, space your plants according to their mature spread, and use soft ties to guide new growth toward any gaps in coverage.

How do I train clematis to climb up a wall or fence?

Clematis climbs by twining its stems around supports rather than adhering to surfaces, so you'll need to provide something for it to grip. Install a trellis, lattice, chicken wire, or stretch fishing line or twine across your wall or fence using wall anchors, keeping support structures at half an inch or smaller in diameter for the best grip. Use soft cloth strips or twist ties to gently secure a strong section of growth to the support, then remove and reattach the ties higher up each season as new growth develops. Start training early in the growing season when stems are flexible, and your clematis will quickly take over from there.

How do I grow clematis successfully on a trellis from planting through maturity?

Plant your clematis at the base of a sturdy trellis with at least half-inch openings or supports, burying the crown 2 to 3 inches deeper than it grew in the nursery pot to protect against wilt and encourage new shoots. In the first year, use soft cloth strips or twist ties to guide strong stems toward the trellis, and the following year remove those ties and reattach them higher up on the new growth to keep training the vine upward. Clematis thrive across a wide range of climates, with extremely cold hardy and heat tolerant varieties available to suit nearly any garden. Choose your variety based on your zone, get it established with consistent moisture, and commit to annual pruning and retying to keep it climbing vigorously year after year.

How do I train clematis to grow up a post or pergola column?

To train clematis up a post or pergola column, start by selecting a strong young stem and loosely securing it to the support using soft cloth strips or twist ties. Clematis vines twine naturally around any foothold, so wrap a half-inch or smaller support material like twine or fishing line around the column to give the vine something to grip. Each year, remove the old ties and reposition them higher up on the new growth to gradually guide the vine upward. For best results, work with the vine in early spring before growth becomes too rigid, and add additional anchor points as needed to keep the vine growing in the direction you want.

Should I guide clematis vines by hand, or will they climb on their own?

Clematis are natural climbers that will twine their stems around any available support on their own, but a little guidance goes a long way toward keeping growth tidy and directed where you want it. Use soft cloth strips or twist ties to gently secure a strong section of growth to your trellis, arbor, or other support, making sure the support structure is no wider than half an inch so the vine can wrap around it easily. Each following year, remove the old ties and move them up to secure newer growth higher on the structure.

What type of support structure works best for training clematis to climb?

Clematis climb by twining their stems around supports, so they need something slender enough to grip, ideally half an inch or smaller in diameter. Good options include fishing line, twine, chicken wire, lattice, or wooden and metal supports. Use soft cloth strips or twist ties to encourage young vines in the right direction, and choose a sturdy trellis, arbor, fence, or even a porch column as the main structure. Start by tying a strong section of growth to your chosen support, then remove and reposition the tie the following year to guide new growth upward.

How do I encourage a clematis that has stopped climbing to start growing in the right direction again?

If your clematis has stalled or wandered off course, the fix is straightforward. Choose a strong, healthy stem and use a soft cloth strip or twist tie to gently secure it to your trellis, arbor, or support structure at the point where you want growth to resume. The following season, remove that tie and reattach it higher up on the new growth to continue training it upward. Repeat this process each year until the vine is well established on its support and naturally climbing in the direction you want.

#ProPlantTips: How to Grow & Train Clematis