Clematis montana /ˈklɛmətɪs/
Common name: Mountain clematis · Anemone clematis · Himalayan clematis
Clematis montana is a vigorous deciduous climbing vine in the buttercup family, native to mountain regions from the Himalayas through China and Taiwan. In late spring it smothers itself in masses of four-petalled white or pink flowers, often vanilla-scented, over bronzed young foliage. It is one of the most popular garden clematis because it flowers profusely without complicated pruning and tolerates shade and cold better than most large-flowered hybrids.
Care summary
Sun
Full sun to partial shade; keep roots cool and shaded
Water
Regular watering; keep soil evenly moist, not soggy
Soil
Fertile, humus-rich, well-drained; neutral to alkaline
Hardiness
Zones 6–9
Mature height
About 600–1200 cm (20–40 ft)
Pet safe
No — toxic to cats and dogs if ingested
Difficulty
Moderate
Propagation
Propagate by layering or semi-ripe cuttings in summer. For layering, peg a flexible stem to the ground, nick the underside, cover with soil, and sever it from the parent once rooted, usually within a season. Cuttings of 10 cm with a leaf node root in moist, gritty compost with humidity.
Fun facts
- It belongs to pruning group 1 — it flowers on old wood, so it needs no routine pruning beyond tidying after flowering.
- The cultivar 'Rubens' has pink, chocolate-scented flowers and has won the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
- A happy plant can climb 12 metres and completely cloak a shed, wall, or small tree in a single season.
- After flowering it produces silky, feathery seed heads that persist into autumn and catch the light.