Clematis

There are three different types of clematis. The key to pruning your clematis is knowing what type you have. In “Group 1” you will find early flowering species that produce masses of flowers like c. “montana” and c. “alpina.” The cultivars in Group 1 do not need regular pruning except to remove dead vines and restrict growth. When pruning, cut back to a healthy pair of buds or to the main stem after flowering. Flowering occurs on stems that grew during the previous season. Group 2 clematis are mid-summer flowering with large solitary flowers on stems that come from the previous season’s growth.

Popular examples of cultivars in this group include c. “Henryi” and c. “Nelly Moser.” Prune Group 2 clematis in the early spring before they begin to grow. Cut back to a healthy pair of buds. These buds will produce this year’s flowers. Group 3 clematis flower later in the season and bloom on the current year’s growth. Prune early in the season before growth begins. Prune clematis in this group down to a pair of leaf buds just above the previous season’s growth.

For more information, please see this Ohio Fact Sheet

Penn State Horticulture Department

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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