What soil does Large-flowered clematis grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, calcareous.

Is Large-flowered clematis hardy?

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

When does Large-flowered clematis flower?

Flowering: May–September, white, pink, red, purple, blue.

How much water does Large-flowered clematis need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: low.

How much does Large-flowered clematis cost?

It sells for roughly €12 to €44 in local shops, depending on size.

Large-flowered clematis

Clematis Large-flowered Group

Large-flowered clematis (Clematis Large-flowered Group) is a climber. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: low. Toxic to dogs, cats and children. Sold in local shops from about €12.

Illustration of Large-flowered clematis — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

Large-flowered clematis are garden hybrids with hand-sized blooms of 10 to 18 cm in white, pink, red, purple and blue, many of them striped. They climb by twisting their leaf stalks, so give them thin supports (wire, netting, a close trellis, canes no thicker than a pencil); they cannot grip a thick post on their own. Keep the head in the sun and the feet in cool shade (mulch or low plants over the roots), and plant 5 to 8 cm deeper than the plant sat in its pot. When choosing, check the pruning group: early cultivars (group 2, such as 'Nelly Moser' and 'The President') flower in May and June on last year's stems and again in late summer, so in late winter only tidy them and shorten to the first strong pair of buds; late cultivars (group 3, such as 'Jackmanii' and 'Ville de Lyon') flower in summer on new shoots, so cut them back hard in late winter, to a strong pair of buds 30 to 60 cm above the ground. Height also varies by cultivar, roughly between 2 and 4 metres.

Watch out for

Large-flowered hybrids are the clematis most prone to clematis wilt: shoots collapse and blacken within days, often just before flowering. Cut the affected stem back to healthy tissue or to the ground and destroy it; a deeply planted crown usually resprouts from below the soil. There is no chemical cure. Wilting can also come from drought, waterlogging or damage to the brittle stems, which snap easily. In the hot, dry summers of Central Europe it scorches and the flowers fade against a sun-baked south wall, and it struggles without regular watering. Powdery mildew, aphids, earwigs and slugs or snails on young shoots also occur.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 3 m × 1 m
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D May–September, white, pink, red, purple, blue

Group	Climber
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	3 m × 1 m
Ultimate size	1.5–4.5 m × 0.5–1.8 m
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	May–September, white, pink, red, purple, blue
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Low
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	60 cm
For dogs	Toxic
For cats	Toxic
For children	Toxic
Typical price	from about €12

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
23 cm	approx. €38
60-70 cm	approx. €12
100-125 cm	approx. €30
150-175 cm	approx. €43
size not stated	approx. €12 – €23

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made

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