How to Grow Jackmanii Clematis

Clematis are available in a wide range of species, each with different growth habits and flower types. They are a favorite in the garden for their showy flowers and their climbing beauty when covering walls, fences or trellises. Jackmanii clematis features large purple flowers which bloom twice per year — once in early summer and again near the beginning of autumn. This plant grows best with six hours of sun, and light shade during the hottest part of the day.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

things you’ll need:

• Lime
• Compost
• Shovel
• Mulch
• Ground cover (optional)
• Bone meal
• Pruners

1. Choose a location for the clematis that will receive about six hours of sunlight per day. Work lime into the soil if needed, to achieve a pH of 7. Mix in 1 to 5 cubic feet of compost to increase drainage and add nutrients.
2. Dig a hole the depth of the root ball and twice as wide. Plant the clematis so the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding ground. Add a heavy layer of mulch or plant small plants and ground cover around the base of the plant to keep the roots cool.
3. Mix a generous amount of bone meal and compost into the top 2 inches of soil periodically throughout the growing season. For winter protection, add 4 to 5 inches of mulch or cover the base with burlap or plastic garden sheets.
4. Prune each year in late winter. Cut the plant near the base, keeping at least one pair of healthy buds on the vine. Buds form on the new growth of the plant, so without yearly pruning, the bottom of the vine will become woody and bare.

Tips & Warnings

• Water regularly during the first year after planting. Plants become more hardy after they’re established, but supplement with plenty of water during dry periods.