Making your clematis thrive

Canada's most popular flowering vine is undoubtedly the clematis, and for good reason. It provides a spectacular burst of brilliant flowers and offers a wonderful choice of form, shape and colour. With a little care and proper selection of the species and cultivar that suit your site best, clematis will thrive and bloom in your garden for many years to come.

• The most important thing to know about the clematis you select is its flowering season – early or late spring, early or late summer, or fall. Its blooming time determines when the vine should be pruned.
• Proper pruning maximizes flower production. For the first two years, don't be concerned about blooms – prune for a multiplicity of stems to bear a multiplicity of flowers in the long term.
• Regardless of the type, prune all newly planted clematis to two sets of leaves or buds (about 6 inches/15 cm from the ground). Subsequent yearly pruning is dictated by the season of bloom.