Clematis armandii /ˈklɛmətɪs/
Common name: Evergreen clematis · Armand clematis
Clematis armandii is an evergreen climbing vine in the buttercup family, native to southern and central China. Unlike most clematis, it keeps its long, leathery, dark green leaves year-round and blooms in early spring with clusters of starry, strongly almond- or vanilla-scented white flowers. It is prized in gardens for covering walls and fences quickly and for providing fragrance and greenery when little else is in leaf.
Care summary
Sun
Sun or part shade; shelter from cold, drying winds
Water
Water regularly until established; then moderately
Soil
Fertile, moist but well-drained; neutral to alkaline
Hardiness
Zones 7–9
Mature height
About 450–900 cm (15–30 ft)
Pet safe
No — toxic to cats and dogs if ingested
Difficulty
Moderate
Propagation
Propagate from semi-ripe stem cuttings in summer. Take 10-15 cm sections with a pair of leaves, remove the lower leaves, insert in a gritty, moist compost, and keep humid until rooted. Layering a low stem into the soil also works reliably.
Fun facts
- It was named after Père Armand David, the French missionary and naturalist who also introduced the giant panda to Western science.
- Its flowers open in late winter to early spring, often while frost is still around, and the scent can carry across a whole garden.
- It is one of the few evergreen clematis, with leaves up to 15 cm long that take on bronze tints in cold weather.
- Like Clematis montana it is a pruning group 1 plant, needing little more than a light tidy after flowering.