Clematis - Group 2 - Early flowering hybrids

Clematis  are split into three groups according to their flowering times and the pruning required.

Group 2 Clematis flower in the spring and then again often later on in the season in the autumn, the later flush of flowers not being as great as the first. There are a great number of hybrids in this group and so actual flowering times and durations vary enormously.

They flower on the wood produced in the previous growing season. As the grouping is determined by flowering time and pruning requirements, it is made up of a number of different species and a great many cultivars and named varieties.

Pruning: Prune in late winter or early spring before any new growth has emerged. Cut back too-long shoots to healthy buds and remove any dead wood only when frost danger has passed. Old congested plants can be thinned by removing about 1 in 3 woody shoots. If total renovation is needed they can be cut right back to the base, 6-12 inches above the ground just after flowering - don't do this again for at least three years though.

This group generally need little in the way of pruning. If hard pruning is required, the spring flowers are usually lost, but the later flush in the first year will be much better, then the plant can get back to normal the year after.