Clematis montana, mountain clematis: planting and care from A – Z | sorts

The easy-care Clematis montana is also well suited for garden owners with little time. Because the mountain clematis belongs to the wild species and is therefore very robust and can grow in many locations. Because the plant is hardy, it can be cultivated in a garden bed. If pruning and winter care are right, then it will be enchanting again next year with many small, graceful flowers. There are different, equally graceful varieties of Clematis montana, all of which require the same care. What the ideal care looks like is explained in the following article.

heyday

The flowers of the mountain clematis form on the shoots of the previous year. This is discussed in more detail under the heading “Cutting”. The flowering period begins in May and lasts until June. Some varieties may flower a second time in August. Especially in very warm and sunny summers, clematis like to flower a second time if they have been pruned slightly immediately after the first flower.

Soil condition & location

The mountain clematis do well in a wind-protected and sunny to semi-shady location. The soil should always be evenly moist, without waterlogging and rich in humus. A garden soil mixed with compost is therefore ideal for Clematis montana. A drainage should also be created before the first planting. Heavy soil should always be mixed in with gravel or sand to make it looser. The correct location for the climbing plant looks like this:

• requires climbing aid
• in front of south wall
• create a climbing aid here
• west or east walls are also tolerated
• on a free-standing pergola
• as a privacy screen on a fence

Fertilize

Clematis montana has a high nutrient requirement, which increases during the flowering period. However, if long-term fertilizer is used, it is sufficient to fertilize the plant two or three times a year at most. The ideal fertilization looks like this:

• in the spring before the first shoot
• Use a complete fertilizer with nitrogen
• this supports leaf sprouting
• Fertilize again after leaf formation
• for flowering use fertilizer for flowering plants
• use organic fertilizer in the fall
• Working compost and horn shavings in soil
• Mulch provides fresh nutrients all year round

pour

The easy-care Clematis montana does not need much to thrive. However, regular watering should not be forgotten. In spring and autumn, the naturally falling rain is usually sufficient to provide the plant with sufficient moisture. However, in the summer and even in the winter months, when there are long periods of drought, the following should be observed when watering:

• always in the late evening or early morning hours
• only on the root area
• use collected rainwater
• Mountain clematis slightly tolerant of lime
• in winter on frost-free days
• Always mulch soil
• retains moisture

plant

If a mountain clematis is to be replanted, the soil at the chosen location must first be well prepared. Early autumn is the best time to plant here, as the plant can still root well in the moist soil before winter. But late spring can also be chosen for this. By then, however, the earth should have warmed up a bit. It is important to prepare the soil, which is mixed with compost, a few weeks in advance so that the nutrients can already decompose and are available immediately when planting. Furthermore, you should proceed as follows:

• Dig a planting hole
• twice the size of root balls
• slightly deeper
• Space can be used for drainage
• Put stones or gravel on the bottom of the hole
• Use clematis
• fill in soil
• press well
• water sufficiently
• fasten the first shoots to the climbing aid

If the roots are in the sun, then they should be mulched immediately after planting so that there is enough shade.

plant neighbors

Not only with the mountain clematis, but also with all other clematis varieties, ground covers are wonderful as plant neighbors. Because these can be planted around the trunk of Clematis montana and thus offer the sun-sensitive roots good protection through sufficient shade. However, if ground covers are planted, care should be taken that they also need water and therefore have to be watered more than would be the case with just a single clematis. Since the ground cover should provide shade in sunny locations, it must be suitable for sun to partial shade. The following varieties are particularly good here:

• Fingerstrauch (Potentilla fruticosa)
• Knöterich (Bistorta)
• Kriechender Günsel (Ajuga reptans)
• Carpet Phlox
• Carpet dogwood (Cornus canadensis)
• Carpet / cushion bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana)
• Mountain avens (dyras)
• Steinbrech/Bergenie (Bergenia)
• Steinkraut (Alyssum)

This is just an excerpt of the suitable ground cover that can be selected here as sun protection and shade providers. Another benefit of these plants is that they prevent weed growth and retain moisture in the soil for longer.

Care mistakes, diseases & pests

The care mistakes that can damage the mountain clematis include too much sunlight on the roots and too little water, but also waterlogging. However, if the care is properly followed, then there is usually no disease or infestation by pests. However, an infestation of gray mold can occasionally occur. This usually forms when there is prolonged rainy weather and the leaves cannot dry properly. Therefore, an airy location is ideal. The dreaded clematis wilt usually only affects the hybrids, but not the more robust wild species.

To cut

Pruning Clematis montana is important so that it can develop its beautiful, rich flowers. The flower forms on last year’s shoots, so you should avoid removing new shoots. The mountain clematis is assigned to pruning group 1 of the clematis plants and should therefore be pruned as follows:

• right after flowering
• right time in June or July
• only from the second year after planting
• remove only a few tendrils
• an annual cut is not required
• older plants could bare
• regularly thin out from below
• this is more important than length growth limitation
• Vertical section is not necessary
• only if plant grows too tall overall

hibernate

The mountain clematis are quite easy to overwinter. Because they are hardy and if one or the other shoot dies on very frosty days due to the cold, this is not a tragedy for the plant. However, if too many one-year-old shoots die off, it could be at the expense of abundant flowering next year. The following can be observed when wintering the mountain clematis:

• correct pruning
• mulch on the ground
• wrap lower trunk with brushwood
• protect the upper area with plant fleece on very cold days
• remove protection on warmer days
• otherwise there is no ventilation under the fleece
• Water moderately on frost-free days

If a clematis no longer wants to sprout after the winter, this is usually not because it could have frozen. The reason for this is more often that watering has been forgotten during longer dry periods and the plant has simply dried up. Incidentally, this reason is the most common reason why plants no longer sprout after one winter.

multiply

All clematis species can be propagated in two different ways. On the one hand by sinkers and on the other with cuttings. The method of lowering for propagation is preferable here, since the offshoot remains connected to the mother plant until it roots and therefore does not require its own care. When lowering, proceed as follows:

• early summer is the best time
• choose long, flexible shoots
• lower down
• Sink the middle of the shoot slightly into the ground
• fasten with tent pegs or large curved nails
• Leave the sinker on the mother plant until it roots
• then cut the side towards the mother plant
• Remove carefully with roots
• Plant in a pot and overwinter in a frost-free place
• plant out in spring

sorts

There are various beautifully flowering varieties of mountain clematis. These do not differ in care, but in their appearance. The following decorative varieties are commercially available:

• „Freda“
  • deep pink flowers with dark fringes
• „Jenna Keay“
  • half to fully double flowers
• „Rubens“
  • pink flowers with a vanilla scent
• „Wilsonii“
  • white, simple flowers like anemones