Clematis – Derivation of the Greek Word Klema, Referring to Vine Clematis
Clematis is a group of about 300 kinds of flowering plants in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. Most are climbing vines with large, colorful flowers, and they are among the most popular climbing plants for fences, trellises and walls. The name comes from the Greek word klema, which means a vine or twig.
Scientific Classification & Quick Facts
| Common name | Clematis |
| Scientific name | Clematis |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Ranunculales |
| Family | Ranunculaceae |
| Type | Perennial climbing plants, about 300 species |
| Habitat | Well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil; roots in cool shade |
| Native range | Japan and China (many hybrids) |
| Colours | White flowers |
| Special feature | Name comes from Greek for vine; also called traveller’s joy |
Clematis Through History
Wild clematis grow in many parts of the world, including Europe, Asia, North America and Australia. Many of the big-flowered garden types were bred from species that came from China and Japan.
Gardeners have been creating hybrid clematis for a long time. One of the most famous, Clematis × jackmanii, was bred in England in 1862 and is still grown today. New varieties are introduced every year.
In Britain, the only native clematis is Clematis vitalba, a wild climber with small, creamy flowers and fluffy seed heads. The English herbalist John Gerard named it traveller’s joy because it decorated hedges along roads and paths. Another common name is old man’s beard.
What Does Clematis Look Like?
Most clematis are woody, perennial vines that can climb anywhere from a few feet to over 20 feet (6 m), depending on the variety. A few kinds are bushy, non-climbing plants.
Clematis leaves grow in pairs, opposite each other on the stem. Instead of using tendrils, the plant climbs by wrapping its leaf stalks around thin supports such as wires, twigs or trellis.
The colorful parts of a clematis flower are actually sepals, not true petals. Flowers come in white, pink, red, purple, blue and yellow, and they can be star-shaped, bell-shaped or wide and flat. After flowering, many clematis grow silky, feathery seed heads that look beautiful in autumn.
Safety tip: Clematis plants contain a substance that can irritate skin and is poisonous if eaten, so wear gloves when pruning and keep the plants away from pets that like to chew.
Growing Clematis at Home
Photo by: Ulf Eliasson
Preparing the Soil
Clematis like well-drained soil that is neutral or slightly alkaline. If your soil is acidic, you can sweeten it with a little garden lime or wood ash. Mix plenty of compost into the planting area.
A famous saying about clematis is that they like their “head in the sun and feet in the shade.” The leaves and flowers need plenty of sun, but the roots prefer cool, shaded soil. A layer of mulch, a few flat stones or low plants around the base will keep the roots cool.
Feed clematis in spring with a balanced granular fertilizer, and give a liquid feed once or twice more during the growing season.
Growing Clematis From Seed
Most people buy young clematis plants, but you can also try growing them from seed. It takes patience, because clematis seeds can be slow to sprout.
- Collect seeds from a healthy plant once the seed heads have dried and begun to open. Pull the brown seeds away from the fluffy material. A little fluff left on the seeds will not hurt.
- Make a well-drained mix of about 2 parts sharp sand to 3 parts seed compost, and fill some 4-inch (10 cm) pots, leaving about half an inch of space at the top.
- Space the seeds about an inch apart and press them gently into the surface.
- Cover them with a thin layer of the mix or fine grit, about a quarter of an inch deep, and firm it down lightly.
Placement and Watering
Keep the seed pots outdoors in light shade, or in a cold greenhouse or cold frame with bright, indirect light. Leave them outside through the winter. Many clematis seeds need a period of cold before they will sprout, and some may take a year or more to come up.
Once your clematis is planted in the garden, give it a sturdy support to climb. Water it regularly during dry weather for the first few years. A deep soaking once a week is better than a little water every day, because it helps the roots grow deep.
When Does Clematis Flower?
Different clematis bloom at different times. Some flower in early spring, some in early summer, and others from midsummer into autumn. Each plant usually flowers for a few weeks rather than all season long like many annuals.
Some large-flowered types will bloom a second time later in summer. To encourage this, remove the faded flowers, water well and feed with a fertilizer that is low in nitrogen and higher in potassium, such as a tomato feed.
Pruning Clematis
Photo by: Ulf Eliasson
How you prune a clematis depends on which pruning group it belongs to. The plant label usually tells you.
- Group 1 (early spring bloomers): Prune lightly right after flowering, removing dead, weak or tangled stems.
- Group 2 (large flowers in late spring and early summer): Trim lightly in late winter or early spring, cutting back to a pair of healthy buds.
- Group 3 (flowers from midsummer on): Cut all stems back hard in late winter, to about 12 inches (30 cm) above the ground.
Clematis as Cut Flowers
Clematis are not just for the garden. Their unusual, colorful flowers make striking bouquets that brighten up a room. Pick them in the cool of the morning and put the stems in water straight away to help them last. The fluffy seed heads can also be dried and used in long-lasting flower arrangements.
Clematis FAQs
Where does the name clematis come from?
It comes from the Greek word klema, which means a vine or climbing plant.
Why is clematis called traveller’s joy?
Herbalist John Gerard gave the name traveller’s joy to Clematis vitalba, the only clematis native to Britain.
How many kinds of clematis are there?
There are about 300 species, and new hybrid cultivars appear all the time.
What soil does clematis like?
Clematis likes well-drained soil that is neutral or slightly alkaline. It does best when its roots are in cool shade and its leaves are in warm sun.
How do you prune clematis?
Prune it every year, but how you do it depends on its pruning group. Group one plants should have weak and dead stems cut out after they flower in early summer.
Randi Jones is the owner and founder of the Nature Gift Store, an online retailer specializing in nature-themed gifts, educational science projects, live animal nature kits and real butterfly artwork. A biology graduate who fell in love with insects, she founded the company in 2001 to make active learning about nature fun, accessible and engaging for children and adults. Her store offers real butterfly frames, home and garden decor and educational live animal kits, including ant farms, worm farms, tadpoles, ladybugs and hermit crabs, and she runs a bug museum in Washington featuring live animals like Eddie the Iguana alongside other reptiles and insects.
