Topic: clemantis help

[Sparkly]

Hi everyone! I have a clemantis. It is a dark purple colour with many flowers starting around July-ish. Can I prune this hard back as it is getting pretty wild? I haven't pruned it at all for 3 years. It has new growth sprouting at the base, but also at points along the established stems.

Any help appreciated.

Also any idea on variety?

[grannyjanny]

When Monty was planting recently he said 'if it flowers before June don't prune'. I would as you have new shoots coming from below. Have a look at clematisontheweb you might find yours there.

[goodlife]

If you need to do good 'clean up'..cut all the growth down to level of the lowerst growth..sounds like yours is group 3 that do prefer almost total chop.
There is hundreds of varieties of clematis so to tell the variety by description only is almost impossible. Check varieties in viticella family.

[Sparkly]

Thanks all! It does look like a viticella type. I was sure I had a photo of it in flower, but can't find it. Am I ok to hard prune this back then? Just leave a few shoots coming out?

[grannyjanny]

I have Polish Spirit & it didn't get pruned last year so I took it back to 3 buds from the ground. It grows through a rhododendrom & a cotoneaster, looks lovely in full bloom.

[Obelixx]

Any clematis that is throwing up new shoots from the base is likely to be a group 3 for pruning which means, yes, you can cut back all the top growth down to those new shoots.

Give it a good feed of something like pelleted chicken manure and a good drink as clematis are hungry and thirsty plants.  It will repay you with masses of flowers next summer.


Have a look at clematis viticella Etoile Violette.  It may be what you have.

[Sparkly]

Thanks  ;D