My Clematis Jun 2026

(e.g., ‘Nelly Moser’, ‘The President’)

"Third year’s the charm. My clematis is officially taking over the trellis! 🌸" My Clematis

Then there are the earwigs. I swear my local earwig population treats my white 'Henryi' like a drive-thru restaurant. I don't fight them with chemicals anymore. I just go out at dusk with a flashlight and shake them into a bucket of soapy water. It is a small price to pay for the glory of those white stars. I swear my local earwig population treats my

I didn’t choose my first Clematis; it was a half-off rescue from a big-box store, a wrinkled plastic pot with a picture of a star-shaped purple flower fading in the sun. The tag simply read "Clematis—Large Flowering." I brought it home with the skepticism of a new gardener. It is a small price to pay for

Watching my Clematis wake up in the spring is a slow burn of joy. First, there are the "squiggles"—fat, pale pink buds that emerge from the woody nodes. Then, the tendrils begin to search. They are hungry, curious things, wrapping around every rung of the trellis.

Regular watering, especially during the first year, is crucial to establish a strong root system. I also mulch around the base of the plant to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Fertilizing in spring with a balanced fertilizer promotes healthy growth and flowering. Pruning, of course, is an essential part of clematis care, and I will discuss this in more detail later.