Clematis – or Clematis – are popular climbing plants for outdoors and for the bucket. In order for their beautiful flowers to come into their own, the plants need a suitable location and the right soil.
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The ideal location
The clematis (clematis) inspires gardeners because of its beautiful flowers and lush growth. In the right place, the densely leafed plant often completely overgrows its support with twining stems. The original species such as the common clematis (Clematis vitalba), which is native to us, can be found wild in the deciduous and mixed forests of Central and Southern Europe. Here they grow up the trees towards the sunlight. Therefore, in principle, a location for the clematis in the garden that meets these requirements is ideal:
- sunny to semi-shady
- no blazing midday sun
- keep the upper part as light as possible
- “Foot” (ie root area and lower shoots) shaded
- protected from rain and wind
So it is best to plant the clematis in a place that is rather shady and still offers enough light. House walls or walls facing west or east, for example, or a trellis set up near higher, shady trees are ideal.
Sun tolerance depends on the variety
But now it is getting a bit more complicated, because the different species and varieties of clematis have completely different requirements in terms of light. Some modern hybrid breeds, for example, no longer want to know anything about the traditional rule “sunny head, shaded feet” and prefer a sunny spot in the garden. So that you can find the right planting place for every type of clematis, we have summarized the requirements of the most popular groups of varieties for you:
- Large-flowered clematis hybrids: summer flowering varieties that bloom once prefer partial shade and tolerate sunny locations very well
- Large-flowered clematis hybrids: on the other hand, twice-flowered varieties tolerate shade well, especially the white and other light-flowered varieties
- Early flowering (atragene) varieties: Alpine clematis ( C. alpina ), mountain clematis ( C. montana ) and blue clematis (C. macropetala) need shade
- Perennial clematis (esp. C. integrifolia): tolerates sun, good companion for roses
- Italian clematis ( Clematis viticella ): very tolerant of sun, but also grows in the shade
- Clematis texensis and C. viorna: need a location that is as sunny as possible
- Common clematis (C. vitalba): native species, particularly robust, tolerates all locations equally well
Optimal soil composition
Since the clematis is a plant native to deciduous and mixed forests, it also needs an appropriate soil:
- nutritious
- fumes
- loose and deep
- very well water permeable
- must not tend to waterlogging
- pH around 6
Measures in the event of an unsuitable location
You already have a clematis in the garden, but it doesn’t really want to thrive? Then the location might not be suitable for the demands of the clematis. If it is too sunny for the plant (then the flowers will not develop properly and the leaves will remain pale), you do not have to change location immediately. Instead, these measures also help:
- Shade the “foot” of the clematis
- for example by pre-planting perennials or low shrubs
- these should not be higher than about 50 to 80 centimeters
- leave sufficient planting distance to the clematis
- suitable species: cranesbill , bluebells, pygmy sparrows, catnip , lady’s mantle, periwinkle
- Keep the root area slightly moist (avoid waterlogging!)
- Mulch the root area (e.g. bark mulch)
On the other hand, a change of location for planted clematis outdoors is appropriate if the conditions there change adversely or the soil is less than optimal. For example, if you have to water frequently due to dry subsoil, the plant may suffer over time – for example, if you do not manage to water in time. In this case, drought damage (wilted, yellowish leaves and shoots) is the result. Relocation is usually also possible with older clematis without any problems, as the plants form large, wide root balls with many fine roots.
