Clematis cover dreary facades with lavish flowers, serve as a magical privacy screen on the trellis or as a magnificent ground cover in the bed. Get to know the many talents and impressive attributes of a clematis here in the profile.
What are important characteristics of a clematis?
The clematis is a woody or herbaceous climbing plant from the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) with 325-475 species. It has lianas up to 6 meters long, grows in central and southern Europe and blooms from April to October. Clematis is divided into three cutting groups and prefers partially shaded locations.
Profile about the systematics and appearance of the clematis
Anyone who reduces clematis to its function as a climbing plant for facade greening is not doing justice to its diverse talents. The following profile reveals what the popular plant contains:
- Plant family of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae)
- Scientific name of the genus: Clematis
- Between 325 and 475 known species
- Perennial, woody, rarely herbaceous climbing plant
- Leaf-stem tendrils with lianas up to 6 meters long
- Native to Central and Southern Europe
- Growth heights from 100 to 1200 centimeters
- Flowering time depending on the species from April to October
- Flower diameter up to 20 centimeters
- Single-seeded nuts with feather-like styles
- Common names: clematis
Within the multifaceted genus, in addition to the woody, climbing species, herbaceous, non-climbing specimens are also represented. These varieties, known as carpet clematis, are widely used as ground cover and container plants in ornamental gardens.
Profile provides important information about care
From the profile, hobby gardeners can draw valuable conclusions about the proper care of clematis. As perennial plants, most species are hardy. Winter protection is only recommended in the year of planting and in the pot. As is common with many perennial plants, the seeds are cold germinators. Since sowing proves to be quite complicated, hobby gardeners favor propagation using cuttings or offshoots.
Due to the divergent flowering times, gardeners divide clematis into three cutting groups. Anyone who becomes familiar with this division makes an important contribution to professional care. That's what matters:
- Pruning group 1: Do not cut spring-flowering clematis or, if necessary, only after flowering
- Pruning group 2: Clean out twice-flowering clematis after the first flowering and cut after the second flowering
- Pruning group 3: Shorten summer-flowering clematis generously in autumn to 20 or 30 centimeters
As the name clematis conveys, the climbing plants come from forested regions. There it climbs up trees, towards the light, with its roots in the shade. For the vast majority, a partially shaded location in nutrient-rich, humus-rich soil is therefore ideal.
Tips & Tricks
In addition to all its positive properties, the poison content of clematis should not be underestimated. Since there are alkaloids and toxic protoanemonin in the plant sap, all care and planting work should be carried out with protective clothing and gloves.