Clematis, Queen of the Climbers

Clematis are called Queen of the Climbers for good reason. There are over 300 varieties of these luxurious plants that bloom profusely with large flowers...and they're easy to grow.

I grow mine on fences, obelisks and trellises. You can also let them grow up a tree or shrub, or even allow them to amble along the ground.

They bloom at different times, and I've been collecting images this season so that I can tell you about each and every one of my 18 clematis! Here we go:

'Princess Diana'

Blooms June-September

6-8'

Pruning type 3

 'Nelly Moser'

First to bloom for me this year in early May; reblooms late summer
6-10'
Pruning type 2

 'Josephine'

Blooms early summer to late summer
8'
Pruning type 2

 'Crystal Fountain'
Blooms late spring to early summer, reblooms late summer
8-10'
Pruning type 2

 'Rebecca'
Blooms mid spring to early summer
6-8'
Pruning type 2

'Duchess of Edinburgh'
Blooms late spring to early summer, reblooms late summer
9'
Pruning type 2

'Claire de Lune'

Early bloomer, reblooms

6-10'

Pruning type 2

'Multi Blue'
Late spring to early summer, reblooms late summer to early fall
7-8'
Pruning type 2

Name unknown
I ordered 'Louise Rowe,' but she is pale pink.
She seems to be residing on the same trellis with this deep red beauty.

'Louise Rowe'

Mid-spring, reblooms in August

6-10'

Pruning type 2

'Piilu'
Late spring to early summer bloom, reblooms early fall
4-6'
Pruning type 2

'Proteus'
Late spring - early summer bloomer, reblooms in the fall
8-10'
Pruning type 2

'Betty Corning'
Blooms early summer to early fall
8-12'
Pruning type 3

'Comtesse de Bouchaud'
Blooms June-September
8-12'
Pruning type 3

Name unknown

'Rooguchi'
Blooms June-October
6'
Pruning type 3
Mine is a first year plant; for a better photo of 'Rooguchi' in bloom, click here.

About pruning clematis:

There are 3 pruning types; know which group your clematis belongs to and follow these guidelines.

Pruning type 1:

These flower on old wood (last season's growth). Light pruning to remove any dead wood and neaten it up is all that is needed.

Pruning type 2:

Type 2 clematis flower on both old and new wood. These are rebloomers, with their major show early and a more modest flowering in the fall. Prune lightly, keeping in mind that double flowering varieties have their double blooms on old wood.

Pruning type 3:
These flower on new wood. Cut back to just above a healthy pair of leaf buds, to an approximate height of 8-12" in early spring.

Do you grow clematis in your garden? What are your favorite varieties?