Group A: Early-flowering Clematis:

Alpine Clematis (C. alpina) grows 6 to 8 feet tall, blooms April and May. Flowers are nodding, small, bell-shaped, lavender or purple-blue.

Armand’s Clematis (C. armandii) grows 15 to 30 feet tall, blooms April and May. Two-inch creamy white blooms in large clusters; has a strong vanilla scent in warm weather. This vigorous evergreen clematis has rich green, leathery leaves. You can cut this vine to the base to rejuvenate.

* ‘Apple Blossom’ has flowers that resemble large apple blossoms, opening pink and fading to white.

Downy Clematis (C. macropetala) grows to 15 feet tall, blooms April and May. Flowers are nodding bells, 2.5 to 3 inches in diameter, pale blue with purple shading. These plants prefer cooler, shady locations and will grow best in the Upper Piedmont area. Named varieties may have double flowers; blooms may be shades of blue, pink or lavender.

Anemone clematis (C. montana) grows 20 to 30 feet tall, blooms May and June. Produces masses of flowers in white or pink, 2 to 2.5 inches in diameter. Some cultivars have a vanilla scent. One of the easiest to grow, this vigorous plant develops strong, woody stems. Prune hard to limit growth.

* ‘Rubens’ and ‘Tetrarose’ both have flowers with a stronger pink than the plain species.

Group B: Large-flowered Cultivars:

Clematis lanuginosa ‘Candida’ features a burst of yellow stamens in brilliant white flowers that commonly reach 8 inches across. This plant produces flowers on graceful vines of old and new wood. Prune sparingly.

Florida Clematis (C. florida) features unusual flowers with big, creamy white sepals surrounding ornate rich purple and green centers. It is well-suited to warm areas.

* ‘Alba Plena’ has 3-inch double flowers in pale greenish white.

Large-flowered Hybrids

* ‘Barbara Jackman’ grows to 8 feet. The vigorous, bushy plant has flowers in May or June that are 4 inches in diameter, deep purplish-blue with bright magenta bar. They fade to mauve-blue.
* ‘Hagley Hybrid’ grows to 8 feet and flowers June to September. Flowers are 4 inches in diameter, pale mauve pink, fading to a washed-out pink. Vigorous grower, can also be pruned as group C.
* ‘Jackmanii’ grows 8 to 10 feet, and blooms from July to August. Flowers are 4 to 5 inches in diameter and deep bluish-purple. Free-flowering.
* ‘Marie Boisselot’ grows to 8 to 12 feet, with flowers June to September. Opening flower buds are flushed with lilac-pink, flowers are 8 inches in diameter. Strong grower.
* ‘Mrs. Cholmondeley’ grows up to 20 feet. Blooms May to October with light lavender blue flowers, paler along the midrib. Can also be given group C pruning.
* ‘Nelly Moser’ grows up to 8 to 10 feet, with flowers from May to June and again in September. The flowers are 8 inches in diameter, pale rosy mauve with a central carmine-colored midrib and dark maroon anthers. The flowers fade badly in full sun; provide some shade for this plant.
* ‘Niobe’ grows 8 feet tall and flowers from June to September. Cup-shaped blooms open dark ruby red then turn to bright ruby red with cream stamens. First flowers are 6 inches in diameter, later ones 4 inches in diameter. Moderate grower with some bloom throughout the season.
* ‘Perle d’Azur’ grows to 16 feet. Flowers continuously early summer to mid-autumn. Blooms are 4 to 6 inches in diameter, sky blue with green stamens.

Group C: Late-flowering Clematis:

Sweet Autumn Clematis (C. terniflora) grows vigorously to 30 feet. This clematis produces a cloud of sweetly scented, cream-colored, inch-wide blossoms in early autumn. To control this aggressive vine, cut it back hard after flowering or in early spring. It is generally pest-free.

Orange Peel Clematis (C. tangutica) Small (2- to 4-inch) rich yellow blossoms of this clematis hang like little Chinese lanterns on stiff upright stems. After flowering, fuzzy silver seedpods hang on through winter.

Texas Clematis (C. texensis) A Texas native, this species will stand up to dry, hot summers. The foliage has a bluish tint. Plant it in a south-facing location with plenty of air circulation.

* ‘Duchess of Albany’ is the best-known variety, with large bell-shaped blossoms of deep rose.

Italian Clematis (C. viticella) grows 10 to 12 feet, blooms July to September. Rich, deep purple flowers are 1.5 to 2.5 inches. Vigorous and easy to grow. This clematis is tolerant of warm roots. It originated in southern Europe and western Asia and is adapted to a hot climate.

* ‘Etoile Violette’ has deep violet flowers.
* ‘Alba Luxurians’ is solid white.
* ‘Mme. Julia Correvon’ has wine red flowers.
* ‘Polish Spirit’ is a deep purple with cherry red stripes.

Large-flowered Hybrids

* ‘Comtesse de Bouchard’ grows 6 to 8 feet, with flowers July to August. This is an easy-to-grow prolific bloomer and a good plant for small spaces. Flowers are 4 to 6 inches in diameter, pink with creamy stamens.
* ‘Vyvyan Pennell’ grows up to 8 feet. Flowers are 6 to 8 inches in diameter, deep violet-blue suffused with purple-red and bloom in June and September.

These clematis are listed in approximate order of bloom. Bloom times will vary from the coast to the mountains by as much as a month or more.

FEBRUARY INTO APRIL

Clematis macropetala

MARCH INTO MAY

C. armandii

C. montana

APRIL INTO JUNE

C. alpina

MAY THROUGH AUGUST

C. lanuginosa

C. viticella

‘Jackmanii’

Clematis hybrids: Most put out a flush of bloom in May or June, then flower sporadically throughout summer.

‘Hagley Hybrid’

‘Nelly Moser’

‘Niobe’

C. florida

C. texensis

SEPTEMBER INTO NOVEMBER

C. tangutica