This is The Only Fragrant Climber You Need To Trail Over a Pergola – For Naturally Scented, Colorful Evenings of Summer Hosting
Clematis offers a spectacular long-lasting, floral canopy that will bloom until fall
A pergola draped in colorful flowering vines isn't just a spectacular sight, it provides much needed shade during the hottest months of the year. One of our favorite plants for this task, is Clematis – and there are so many beauties to choose from.
Each of the groups and species has different merits, but for a profusion of blooms throughout the summer, look to Group 3. Within this group, Clematis 'Viticella' offers a range of pretty varieties, crosses and cultivars in colors from subtle to striking that will provide a long-lasting floral canopy.
These fast-growing climbers will keep your pergola looking fabulous, fragrant and more comfortable while you dine or entertain outside, until the fall. In addition, Clematis 'Viticella' are low-maintenance, loved by pollinators and hardy, so it's a reliable variety for a range of regions. This Violette Etoile Clematis from Lowe's is a Viticella that should reach 8-12', with deep purple-violet blooms that last until early fall.
Why we love Clematis
The scope of flower shapes and hues is vast across the various Clematis species. Colors span the palest cream and pastel tones through to vibrant reds, pinks and yellows to the deepest purples, on tiny delicate flowers and those with pretty nodding heads, to big blousy blooms with striped petals or contrasting stamens. And if you plant more than one variety, you could have continual blooms from spring to fall.
'If you're starting out with Clematis, I would recommend growing a 'Montana' from Group one, embellished with a 'Viticella' or 'Flammula' from Group three,' says Heather Carr, co-owner, Thorncroft Clematis.
'Consider how big your pergola is and choose a group 1 that will cover but not swamp the structure. Group 1 species groups to consider would be spring flowering Montana, the spring flowering and Evergreen Armandii or winter flowering Evergreen Cirrhosa.
'This will give you generous coverage and a succession of blooms. Montanas grow fast, so can cover a pergola quickly with foliage and early spring flowers, while the Viticellas will reward you with beautiful blooms from June or July through to September or October, depending on the variety.
'Flammula offer more scent and they're easy to grow in any aspect, although their perfume will be stronger in a sunny spot.'
For fragrance and color, this 'Sweet Summer Love' Clematis from Nature Hill's is a scented 'Flammula' from Group three. It grows 10-15' tall and 6-10' wide, with vibrant magenta-purple flowers, a sweet perfume, and it's suitable for hardiness zones 3a-9b.
'Clematis wrap their tendrils around their host, so if the structure is wider than ½” by ½” they need a little help,' explains Rob Wein, owner, Clearview Horticultural Products.
'Sweet summer Love is a rapid grower, so wrapping a sweet pea netting or stapling a netting will work well. Alternatively, running wire or even string up the posts is useful for the clematis to climb on.'
This Pink Mink Clematis from Plant Addicts is a Group 3 hybrid that will grow to 10' and attract butterflies and hummingbirds to its vivid pink summer blooms. It will do best in a sunny to partially sunny location in USDA planting zones 4 to 9.
Having trained for many years with former owner, Peter Skeggs-Gooch, Heather Carr, is now co-owner of Thorncroft Clematis, the leading clematis mail order specialist in the UK. With over 30 years experience growing and selling high quality clematis to customers in the UK, Europe and worldwide, the team at Thorncroft has a deep knowledge of the various species, varieties, crosses and cultivars and how to grow and care for them.
Based in British Columbia, Canada, Rob Wein is at the helm of family business, Clearview Horticultural Products, where five generations have grown Clematis. The company is now one of the world’s leading clematis propagators
What to Consider When Choosing Clematis For Your Pergola
With over 4000 varieties, choosing the best Clematis for your pergola – and the growing conditions in your garden – is an individual endeavour. Some varieties are reliable, hardy and easy-to-grow while others have more requirements. Not all grow to great heights and some can spread a little too vigorously.
There are Clematis that are early bloomers, and those that flower later. The former tend to be from Group one (or A), which flower April-June, while the latter are usually Group 3 (or C), which bloom from June/July to September/October. Group 2 (or B) generally flower in the spring, with a second flourish at the end of the summer.
There is also the enormous range of colors and flower shapes available. How to grow Clematis will differ slightly according to these factors, however most retailers enable you to select on these criteria to make choosing simpler.
'Taste and colour schemes are so personal, so when customers ask me which clematis for a pergola, I direct them to something in the group 1’s that will get up and over the pergola and then Viticella’s to embellish the remaining pergola legs,' says Heather.
'The biggest consideration is choosing a variety that is relatively vigorous,' says Rob. 'Many (but not all) of the newer varieties are relatively compact and so are not suitable for pergolas. Most growers note a mature height on their plant labels so look for 9’ or more.'
Although it's tempting to start with the aesthetics, start with the practicalities. Knowing your US Hardiness zone, the conditions in your garden and when and how tall you would like the blooms, will narrow down the options.
This Rouge Cardinal Clematis from Plant Addicts has vibrant pinkish-reddish blooms, a vigorous growth habit and is suitable for zones 4-11.
Across the Zones
The majority of Clematis varieties can be grown across zones 4-9, but there are some that can tolerate hotter or colder zones, and there are still plenty of options for chillier regions.
'The earliest to bloom that are both hardy and provide adequate height would be the macropetalas,' says Rob. 'In zone 3 these can be coupled with group C which start to bloom in early summer or bloom into the fall.
'In zones 4-9, any of the groups B varieties such as Clematis Vancouver™ Blue Lion are suitable to pair with an early bloomer such as a macropetala or a late bloomer Group C such as Viticella Venosa aka Violette Stargazer.
'In warmer zones, the options are more plentiful. The Group A Montana varieties are a great choice for early color. They are available in pink or white and many are fragrant. Those can be paired with a mid season group B similar or group C as already suggested.'
This Nelly Moser Clematis from Nature Hill's is a Goup 2 (B), with pretty pink striped flowers that blooms on old and new wood, for an early spring flush and a later summer one.
Both Heather and Rob recommend choosing a range of flowering times. 'This way you'll have interest throughout the year,' says Heather. 'And don't be afraid of the pruning, the worst that can happen is the blooms will be late.'
'There are numerous colours and flower forms to add interest to a pergola, you can also plant two or three together.
Heather's top seller is Etoile Violette, (dark bluey-purple with pale yellow stamens), which reaches an average height of 9 feet. 'Clematis Purpurea Plena Elegans is a lovely double with dusky-magenta rosette shaped flowers,' she adds. 'Clematis Betty Corning is a personal favourite with the delicate pale bluey-mauvey nodding bell-shaped flowers and delicate perfume.'
This Jolly Good Clematis from Plant Addicts is another Group 3. It'll climb to around 8', with long-blooming purple flowers in zones 4-9.
For a fuller spread of flowers from top to bottom, add this Ithemba Clematis from Nature Hill's at the foot of your pergola for a pretty display of long-lasting candy stripe blooms around the posts. It'll reach around 3-4', thrives in zones 4-9 and likes six hours of sunlight per day.
The best Clematis for your pergola will depend on many factors, from how cold your zone gets in winter and how hot in the summer, to whether it's planted somewhere sunny or shady, damp or dry.
Just make sure the varieties you choose are appropriate for your zone, and good climbers, with summer (or staggered) flowering times – and your pergola will be a beautiful floral haven, perfect for hosting throughout the season, until fall.
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