April is the perfect month to add a new dimension to your outdoor spaces with clematis. Have you thought about beautifying your worn-out walls or infusing some poetry into your pergola? These stunning climbing plants have the ability to completely transform monotonous environments into real botanical paintings.

Why adopt clematis as a climbing plant?

Clematis is a highly appreciated climbing plant, known for its aesthetic appeal and adaptability to various environments. Whether you live in a city apartment or a country house, you’re sure to find a variety that suits your needs.

Amazing and elegant varieties

With nearly 300 species available, clematis can truly meet all your outdoor landscaping desires. Depending on the variety, it produces flowers ranging from the large blooms of ‘Nelly Moser’ to the small fragrant clusters of Clematis montana.

If you choose your clematis wisely, you can enjoy flowers from March to October. By playing with bloom times, you can appreciate the vibrant colors of these climbing plants almost all year round.

Practical and versatile: they climb anywhere!

Clematis is resourceful when it comes to finding a support to showcase its beauty. With its delicate tendrils, it climbs easily, as long as you provide an appropriate support:

  • Walls equipped with cables, mesh, or trellises
  • Pergolas to elegantly shade a terrace
  • Decorative trellises perfect for small spaces
  • Trees or shrubs serving as natural and aesthetic supports
  • Garden arches to welcome your guests beautifully

Some varieties can climb up to 10 meters, while others have a more compact growth, ideal for balconies.

How to choose the right clematis for your needs?

Each variety of clematis has its own care requirements and blooming period.

Early blooming clematis

Looking for flowers as early as spring? Choose:

  • Clematis montana, bright and fragrant
  • Clematis alpina, with lovely bell-shaped flowers
  • Clematis armandii, evergreen for year-round beauty

Hybrid clematis with large flowers

If you want to impress with large flowers, these spectacular hybrids bloom in two waves, in May-June and then late summer.

  • ‘Nelly Moser’, a soft pink striped with bright pink
  • ‘The President’, with remarkable deep blue flowers
  • ‘Duchess of Edinburgh’, known for its elegant white double blooms

Late blooming clematis

These varieties bloom between July and October. Keep an eye out for:

  • Clematis viticella, hardy and abundantly flowering
  • ‘Étoile Violette’, generous with its dark purple flowers
  • Clematis tangutica, attractive with its bright yellow flowers

April: key steps to plant your clematis

Take advantage of the mild temperatures in April to plant your clematis successfully. Have you chosen your variety? Here’s how to ensure a good planting:

Choose the right location

Keep these key tips in mind for a happy clematis:

  • Sun on the head, shade on the roots: Plan to provide shade at the roots, perhaps with hostas
  • Well-drained and rich soil, slightly alkaline ideally.

Essential steps for planting

Here’s how to proceed step by step:

  • Dig a hole about 40 cm and enrich it with compost and possibly lime.
  • Install your support before planting the clematis.
  • Plant by slightly burying the base (an additional 5-10 cm) to encourage development.
  • Water generously and protect the base with mulch (flat stones or organic mulch).

Caring for your clematis: simple gestures for beautiful blooming

No worries, clematis requires relatively little maintenance, but a few targeted actions will make all the difference.

Watering and nutrition

Be sure to water regularly during the first two years, and then only in cases of drought. Adding compost or organic fertilizer in spring will keep your plant in excellent health.

Pruning suitable for each group

Follow these pruning guidelines based on your clematis type:

  • Early bloomers: lightly prune after flowering.
  • Hybrids: remove dead stems and trim back after winter.
  • Late bloomers: perform a severe pruning in February-March.

Harmoniously associate clematis in your garden

Combining a clematis with other plants is a fantastic idea for enhancing your outdoor spaces:

  • Climbing roses and honeysuckles add complimentary fragrances and colors.
  • Hostas or perennial geraniums protect the clematis roots while beautifully decorating its base.

Have you ever considered incorporating clematis into your outdoor renovation projects? Which variety is your favorite? Share your experiences and practical tips in the comments below. We’d love to exchange ideas with you about these wonderful climbing plants!