Tips on Germinating Clematis From Seed

Collecting Seed

• Clematis seed can be bought from a garden center or online seed supply company, but many gardeners choose to use seed from their own established clematis plants. Clematis seed becomes available as flower blooms disappear. The seed heads are cottonlike with the seeds themselves at the end. Wait for seeds to turn from green to brown before collecting. Separate the seed from the silky ends as much as possible. To store the seed, put it in a paper bag and refrigerate. It's best to use the seed as soon as possible, to guarantee viability.

Growing Conditions

• Clematis germinate best in a premixed, soilless medium. Alternately, a mixture of 70 percent compost and 30 percent sharp sand works. Keep your pot in a cold, but not freezing, place over the winter, either in an unheated basement or a refrigerator. This helps promote future growth. After winter place your container where it receives indirect sunlight and the temperature does not fluctuate. A warm, but not hot, temperature is ideal. As seedlings emerge from the container, carefully move them into their own containers using the same potting mix. Keep the soil moist throughout the germination period.

Patience

• Clematis seeds can take a long time to grow. If you are lucky, seeds may begin germinating within six months, however most seeds do not germinate for two years and some may not emerge for up to three years. There is little that can be done to expedite this process; the hardest part of growing clematis from seed is waiting.

Variety

• Since most varieties of clematis plants are actually hybrids, their seed will usually not come true. This means the seedling will look different from the parent plant upon maturity. This is one of the more enjoyable parts of growing from seed, as you are not likely to get a clematis exactly like the plant the seed came from. Every once in a while a previously non-existent variety will emerge for the home propagator. Of course there's no guarantee clematis plants grown from seed will be beautiful, some plants grown from seed may be spindly with small and relatively unattractive flowers.