Clematis Foliage in the Winter

Clematis

• Approximately 300 species and hundreds of cultivars are available. With a sunny location and light afternoon shade, the clematis vine will thrive. The woody vine of the clematis is a quick grower. Clematis gives you many options to choose from, including deciduous climbing vines, and evergreen or herbaceous perennials, all with colorful flowers. However, the winter views will be much different.

Wintertime

• With so many cultivars available, at least one will grow in your area. Enjoy the showy display of flowers during the warmer months. Once cold winter weather arrives your clematis vine will almost certainly either die back to the ground or leave you with a tangled mess of bare branches, depending on the severity of your winter.

The Exception

• A winter flowering clematis, native to the scrubby woodlands in the Balearic Islands, is dormant throughout the summer. In early October leaves start to form followed by creamy, 2-inch flowers that show among dark green leaves later in the month. Long after the flowers end, attractive seed pods linger

Other Names

• The 'Virginia Bower,' a wild North American clematis, along with the 'Montana' types, all produce smaller flowers and thrive only in central and southern growing zones. 'Italian' clematis, or 'Viticella Group,' grow similarly to clematis in the large flowered group, but have smaller flowers that bloom heavily. Certain localities refer to the wild, roadside clematis as 'Traveler's Joy' or 'Old Man's beard.'