Evergreen & Winter
These clematis are classified as Evergreen or Semi-Evergreen. Many have a nice scent and all prefer poor or drier soils, avoiding them getting too wet is a priority.
TIPS for the Evergreen Clematis including the Armandii, Cirrhosa and Forsteri Groups.
Please do not grow these clematis in open, very windy situations, or in heavy soil which is prone to water-logging, as they will not appreciate it and will fail to thrive and possibly die. Instead, give them the shelter of a wall or sturdy fence and ensure the soil is very free draining. Occasionally some leaves will die off, this is natural and they can be trimmed off.
Evergreen clematis have a natural dormant period which is around mid-summer when they look ‘tired’. In extreme heat, cirrhosa may drop their leaves, whilst napaulensis does so every summer. Do not water too much at this time, but give them two or three doses of liquid tomato feed at fortnightly intervals which will perk them up and will encourage them to produce fresh leaves and flower better later on.