Last updated on March 6th, 2022
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If you are interested in obtaining year-round colour, then consider planting one of these top evergreen clematises, we have compiled a list that includes some of our favourites. With each of these, you can enjoy colour throughout the year that draws attention to your garden, and in many cases, leaves a beautiful fragrance behind.
Despite there being literally hundreds of clematis available, there is actually only a handful of evergreen clematis, and some of these even flower in winter too.
1. Clematis armandii
This variety of evergreen clematis is rich with leathery green leaves and star-like blooms that form in white clusters. They will quickly grow over any trellis or wall and are perfect for creating a privacy screen.
They are not recommended for containers unless you have a really large one, so it is best to plant these directly in the ground in an area where you will be provided with not only a brilliant selection of leaves throughout the year but an enjoyable fragrance too.
They need partial sun and regular watering at least once a week, possibly more if it is the middle of summer. You will get beautiful flowers in spring but be aware of the fact that they grow quite quickly. They can reach as tall as 4-8 metres with a spread of 1.5-2.5 metres and they prefer moist but well-drained soil. Grows best in full sun in a sheltered location.
2. Clematis armandii ‘Apple Blossom’
The ‘Apple Blossom’ variety not only offers superb green foliage throughout the year but brings with it an abundance of pale pink clusters of fragrant flowers in the spring. These flowers look very similar to apple blossoms, hence their name, and they bring to your garden a lovely fragrance of vanilla.
You can enjoy the light pink flowers complimented by the leathery green leaves as they grow to create a natural privacy screen, or otherwise cover an existing trellis or fence. These varieties will grow quite quickly and bloom in the middle of spring. They need partial to full sun but can do well in partially shaded areas. Like most clematis, they prefer to have the roots in the shade with the new growth in the sun. Although it is hardy, it does need some winter protection with a good mulch around the base in autumn.
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3. Clematis × cartmanii ‘Avalanche’
The Clematis ‘Avalanche’ gets its name from the literal avalanche of flowers it provides. Come spring you will enjoy pure white flowers that have gold stamens end and create a blanket of foliage and flowers. It will naturally trail down an embankment and look like an avalanche of snow.
These flowers will climb up trellises, posts or fences and if you plant them in the ground they will simply meander throughout your garden, creating a shrub border without any support.
They do require weekly watering in dry areas and a location where it will receive partial to full sun. They are more compact than the ‘Apple Blossom’ or the white variety of clematis armandii and this means you can use them in smaller areas very effectively. Unlike most other varieties it also grows well in acidic soil in exposed areas.
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4. Clematis cirrhosa ‘Freckles’ (Winter flowering)
The clematis ‘Freckles’ gets its name from the freckles of dark red-purple colours on the petals, the otherwise creamy white blooms. This version of clematis will flower all winter long on the growth from the previous year.
The flowers stand in contrast to most of the clematis on this list because they take on the shape of a bell so they fall down and open downwards. This evergreen climber does need protection from winter winds so it is best to place it in a location that will offer a natural form of protection, like a wall.
It will bloom from October through March once it reaches 2 years old (or older) you can control the height and the size overall by cutting it back to the previous wood once it has finished flowering in the spring.
5. Clematis cirrhosa ‘Jingle Bells’ (Winter Flowering)
Jingle Bells similarly to the Freckles variety provides bell-shaped flowers that bloom throughout the winter. Jingle Bells (just like Freckles) is a great variety to mix with other clematises so that you can achieve year-round flowers of various colours and sizes.
These are very easy to care for and don’t require any pruning. You just need to plant them somewhere that gets exposed to winter sunlight. You will get a variety of nodding blooms from December all the way through spring complemented by the green, lustrous foliage all year round.
This is a wonderful way to provide your garden with beautiful floral designs around Christmas. Once it is planted you simply need to feed it with general purpose fertiliser and water it during the dry seasons. It works well in pots and doesn’t require any pruning, just deadheading and removing damaged or diseased stems.\
6. Clematis ‘Pixie’
Pixie is an evergreen climbing clematis that has very showy flowers and works well as a trailer over pots and window boxes. It provides fluffy seed heads in autumn as well, so you can get a wonderful array of colours and changes throughout the year.
This is a dwarf species that offers trifoliate leaves with small creamy flowers that are incredibly fragrant. Bear that in mind when you plant it. The flowers give off an elderberry scent. You will get beautiful green foliage in the autumn, summer and winter and white flowers in the spring.
It requires partial sun or full sun and needs to be sheltered against severe winter winds. When it reaches maturity (which takes between 2 and 5 years) it will span approximately 1m in height and 1/2 metre, making it perfect for smaller areas where you simply want to fill a container with a beautiful collection of small flowers that give off an appealing scent. You won’t find many clematises that are as small as this one.
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7. Clematis ‘Early Sensation’
This variety will bloom between the middle and end of spring, producing large, white flowers that stand beautifully against the textured green foliage. The seed heads that develop after the flowers extend the visual appeal that the ‘Early Sensation’ brings to any garden.
It is a compact variety that requires no pruning and is perfect for smaller areas in containers. It is a non-clinging vine as well which makes it great for using as a specimen plant, grown along borders, or used to create privacy screens.
It grows well in full sun or partial shade but needs a sheltered position. As for soil types, it is not fussy as long as it is moist and well-drained. The eventual height is 2.5-4 metres with a 1 to 1.5-metre spread.
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Last update on 2024-04-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
