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?
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
Thanks ;D