Clematis pruning

For pruning purposes clematis can be divided into three groups:

Group 1

Small-flowered species and their cultivars, flowering early spring on last season’s growth.

e.g. Clematis alpina, C. armandii, C. cirrhosa, C. macropetala, C. montana

General pruning
Minimal. Remove dead or damaged stems, and reduce others to their allotted space immediately after flowering (see pic left).

Renovation
Cut back to 15-30cm (6-12in) from the base immediately after flowering (see pic bottom left).

Group 2

Large-flowered cultivars, flowering May-June on short laterals developing from the previous year’s growth. Some flower again in summer on current season’s growth.

General pruning
Remove dead and damaged stems in early spring before growth begins, trimming all remaining stems to a pair of strong buds (see pic left).

Renovation
Thin shoots in spring by removing older ones to the base. Alternatively for those cultivars that flower twice, renovate as for group 3.

Group 3

Large-flowered cultivars, small-flowered species and their cultivars, and herbaceous species, flowering late summer on current season’s growth.

General pruning and renovation
Cut back all growth to a pair of strong buds 15-20cm (6-8in) above soil level, before growth begins in early spring (see pic left).

Further information

• The illustrations above are taken from the RHS Practical Guide - Clematis and remain the copyright of the publisher Dorling Kindersley.
• Search the RHS Plant Finder online for suppliers near you.
• Regular trials take place at the RHS Garden Wisley to find the best cultivars of clematis. Find out more now.
• British Clematis Society

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