A compact-growing flowering vine that matures up to 6 feet tall and no wider than 3 feet, the Asao clematis cultivar bears its blooms earlier than others, in late spring. The large, creamy pink flowers with a pale yellow center of stamens measure 4 to 5 inches in diameter. Petal edges blush a slightly dark shade of pink. Grow Asao clematis in a fertile, humus-rich soil that is moist but well-drained. According to the "A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants," this variety grows best in partial sun to lightly shaded exposures. Mulch the soil to keep the roots cool and moist across the summers in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 4 through 9.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

things you’ll need:

• Hand pruners (secateurs)

1. Prune away dead or broken stems any time of year. Make the pruning cut with sharp-bladed hand pruners, making the cut 1/2-inch above a lower branch, leaf or dormant bud. Pay particular attention in early spring for dead growth, which occurs from the cold winter. Dead branches are brittle and don’t sprout leaf buds as spring’s warmth intensifies.
2. Prune vines back immediately after the primary flowering display ends in late spring to rejuvenate with growth the rest of the summer growing season. Asao is naturally small in size, so chances are slim that pruning is warranted to keep this clematis plant looking tidy and attractive.
3. Keep some vine stems unpruned if they are not untidy looking, as this clematis may re-bloom later in late summer or early fall. Its flowers occur on current year’s growth that matured over the summer months.

Tips & Warnings

• Overall, Asao clematis doesn’t need much pruning. Don’t perform a harsh cut-back pruning after the summer solstice, as new growth must mature before the return of fall frosts later. Clematis vines produce flower buds from woody stems that grew and matured the previous summer, so don’t prune too much old growth away, even in spring, if you choose to prune then.