How to add clematis vines to your garden

Boasting some of the most beautiful flowers of any vine, clematis produces abundant blossoms in a range of colours, including blue, purple, red, pink, yellow, and white. The most commonly grown types are the large-flowered types of clematis, which have showy star-shaped flowers up to 20 centimetres (eight inches) in diameter. Clematis vines climb by looping little leaf stalks, or tendrils, around a neighboring branch, wire, stake, trellis, or other thin support. The plants can also be trained to drape over a fence, porch railing, or lamppost. You can even grow clematis in a large container outfitted with a willow-pole tepee. When the plant is not in flower, the leaves make a lovely screen. Here are some tips on adding clematis to your home garden.

There are two excellent clematis species that flower in spring, and each has varieties in different colours.

• The alpine clematis (C. alpin.) is hardy to Zone 4 and has small, nodding flowers that last for several weeks.
• The flowers are like little bells, often white, but capped with four long, pointed petals in various colours that are the showy part of the flower and open to about eight centimetres (3 1/4 inches) wide.
• Flowers open as soon as the weather warms a little and are produced in great quantities.
• 'Pink Flamingo' is a bright pink.
• 'Willie' is a pale pink.
• 'Francis Rivis' is a lavender blue.
• 'Pamela Jackman' is a darker blue.

• The mountain clematis (C. montan.) is not as hardy and only grows to Zone 6, but where it will survive it puts on a spectacular display.
• This species can climb into tall trees or up the side of brick buildings and covers itself with white or pink flowers in late spring.
• 'Alexander' has cream flowers.
• 'Mayleen' is deep pink and has bronzy foliage.
• 'Tetrarose' has pinkish mauve flowers.

While the alpine clematis grows to about three metres (10 feet) and is suitable for quite small trellises, the mountain species can climb 15 metres (50 feet), so be cautious where you plant it.