Clematis alpina

ALPINE CLEMATIS
Family: Ranunculaceae
Pronounced: KLEM-uh-tiss al-PEEN-uh

 

Quick Jumps

Growing Guide
Rainy Side Notes

---

GROWING GUIDE

Origin:
European Alps.
Plant Group:
Vines.
Hardiness:
Sunset zones: All (Western).
USDA zones: 6-9.
Mature size:
Height: 6-10 feet (2-3 m). Width: 5 feet (1.5 m).
Flowering period:
Spring to early summer.
Flowering attributes:
Single, bell-shaped, blue flowers with white centers.
Leaf attributes:
Deciduous, green leaves.
Light:
Tops in full sun to partial shade, feet in shade.
Soil:
Fertile, humus rich, well-drained soil.
Feeding:
Mulch well with composted manure or compost. Fertilize once a month with a complete organic fertilizer during the growing season.
Propagation Methods:
Sow seed and keep at 65-75°F (18-23°C); germination should occur rapidly. If germination has not occurred within 4 weeks, place seed trays where temperatures are 25-40°F (-3 to 4°C) for up to 4 weeks.
Layer branches in late winter.
Basal and softwood cuttings in spring.
Division in spring.
Semi-ripe cuttings in early summer.
Pruning Methods:
Pruning group 1 or A.

 

Rainy Side Notes

Clematis alpina, discovered in 1768, has lovely true-blue flowers and blooms around the same time as C. montana, though not quite as exuberant. In 1993, the Royal Horticultural Society gave C. alpina an Award of Merit.

In my garden, it climbs up a stump, sometimes falls, gets stepped on, and still keeps growing. It winds through Salal and a climbing Aster, adding a touch of blue to the spring garden. Sometimes, it even blooms again in autumn.

This clematis does best in full sun and also grows well in a container. If you give it something to climb and only prune it a little, it will give you spring flowers and sometimes a few more in the fall.

More Clematis.

Planting and Care of Clematis.

Photographed in author's garden.