Clematis are popular perennial climbers, providing height and colour throughout the season. They look particularly good with roses. There's a huge variety of clematis to grow, with flowers ranging in size from small bells to large dinner plates.

Ad

Clematis can be good for wildlife, clothing walls, fences and trellis with leaves and flowers, which provide shelter for insects and sometimes birds. Some clematis flowers are visited by pollinators, while the fluffy seedheads of Clematis tangutica cultivars may be used as a nesting material by house sparrows.

How to grow clematis

Most clematis require a fertile, moisture-retentive soil and full sun, but there are some that tolerate shade. They're hungry feeders, so add plenty of organic material when planting and feed weekly with a high potash fertiliser in summer. All clematis have roughly the same planting needs, but need pruning according to their pruning group (see below).

Sponsored content

Ad
Ad
Ad