Clematis montana: how to grow and prune, plus the best varieties

The National Collection of Clematis montana is held Val Le Neville-Parry at her garden By The Way in Salisbury, Wiltshire, and contains more than 200 plants in 50 named varieties and cultivars.

Some Clematis montana are rampant, reaching 8m or more, but clematis breeding has produced more compact varieties that are suitable for growing in smaller gardens, or even pots. For all types, flowering is longer than is often assumed, starting in early March and continuing into late June. All Clematis montana go on to produce fluffy seedheads in autumn and into winter.

Foliage is also a feature. “I love the leaves as much as the flowers,” says Val, who shares her recommendations here. Many are available commercially, although some can currently only be seen growing at By The Way.

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How to grow Clematis montana

Medium and large Clematis montana

The more vigorous types of Clematis montana can reach 8m or more, with some of the fully vigorous cultivars reaching 10-12m, depending on growing conditions. These are versatile plants with many uses in the garden.

In her garden, Val uses a Clematis montana var. grandiflora to transform a laurel hedge running down one side of the garden; its shining white blooms, which are among of the largest flowers in the group, sit like butterflies on the glossy leaves of the laurel. Both clematis and laurel are pruned together and thrive on it. The vigorous Clematis montana var. wilsonii can be used as ground cover where space permits. It forms an undulating carpet of foliage studded with scented creamy-white flowers in early summer.

Compact Clematis montana

Many varieties and cultivars of Clematis montana have been bred to have a more contained habit that is less rampant than the vigorous ones. These compact montanas grow to around 4-7m, depending on cultivar and growing conditions, and are a great choice to grow over arches and obelisks. They can be grown on the trunks of mature trees or up poles to add vertical interest to a bed or border.

Compact Clematis Montana will also grow successfully in large pots (at least 50 litres) with a loam-based growing medium with regular watering and feeding with a slow-release fertiliser. Regular watering and annual feeding with a slow-release fertiliser are both essential.

Compact clematis cultivars can be combined with later flowering Clematis viticella or encouraged to scramble up plant supports, obelisks or poles to add vertical interest to a border.

Pruning Clematis montana

Clematis montana is in Clematis Pruning Group 1. It does not need regular pruning, but if is getting too large or leggy, cut it back after flowering, in spring. Regular pruning will encourage strong growth and good flowering and will ensure that the flowers remain at eye level, with no bare, tangled stems at the base.

Read our expert guide to pruning clematis.

The best Clematis montana to grow

Medium to large Clematis montana

Clematis. montana var. grandiflora

The hardiest and most reliable, fully vigorous montana. Open, pure-white blooms with primrose stamens create a stunning display over cascading stems from late spring. AGM. Hardiness: RHS H5, USDA 4a-9b. Height: 8-12m.

Buy Clematis Montana Var. Grandiflora from Crocus

Buy Clematis Montana Var. Grandiflora from Primrose

Clematis Giant Star (='Gistar')

A large-flowered cultivar, introduced from New Zealand. Cup-shaped blooms with waved tepals of mid-pink, paler at the edges eventually open flat and upward facing. A medium-growing montana. Height: up to 10m.

Buy Clematis Giant Star from Norfolk Quality Plants

Buy Clematis Giant Star from the RHS

Clematis 'Victoria Welcome'

An elegant, medium-growing, single montana selected by Val. Its delicate dark-green leaves are matched by starry white, green-eyed blooms, reflexed at the tepal edges. Not yet available commercially.

Clematis 'Marilyn'

A seedling of C. ‘Prosperity’ named after a friend of Val’s. The mauve-pink blooms open as tiny, cream-eyed stars but mature to open, blooms with the longest, narrow tepals in the group. Medium. Height: up to 8m.

Clematis 'Broughton Star'

Val is generally not as keen on the doubles, mainly because they prefer a richer soil, but she makes an exception for this medium-growing double. Fabulously floriferous, it has abundant dusky-pink, veined blooms that are displayed against dark, bronze-tinted foliage. Excellent to grow through a shrub or a small tree. AGM. Hardiness: RHS H5, USDA 7a-9b. Height: up to 8m.

Buy Clematis Broughton Star from Crocus

Buy Clematis Broughton Star from Thompson & Morgan

Buy Clematis Broughton Star from Van Meuwen

Compact Clematis montana

Clematis montana 'By the Way'

A selected seedling that has proved to be one of the best singles. Blooming from the base to the tip, the medium-growing cultivar has soft-pink, deliciously fragrant open blooms that develop into seedheads remaining attractive throughout autumn. Not available commercially.

Clematis 'Marjorie'

Abundant, semi-double flowers with creamy-white outer tepals, becoming pink; the narrow inner tepals darker. At its best in fertile soil and full sun, the flowers open later than single montanas. Height: up to 6m.

Buy Clematis Marjorie from Crocus

Buy Clematis Marjorie from Thompson & Morgan

Clematis montana var. rubens 'Veitch'

Small, open blooms of square formation with rounded tepals of deep, mauve-pink with pale stamens. Best against a light background and seen at close quarters. Hardiness: USDA 7a-9b. Height: up to 4m.

Buy similar varieties, Clematis Montana Var. Rubens Odorata, Pink Perfection and Tetrarose from Crocus

Buy Clematis Montana Var. Rubens from Primrose

Clematis 'Van Gogh'

Excellent cultivar that blooms early and continues for up to six weeks. Cherry-pink blooms, sometimes double at the end of the flowering period. Good choice for a large pot in a sheltered situation. Height: up to 4m.

Buy Clematis Van Gough from Gardening Express

Buy Clematis Van Gough from the RHS

Clematis 'Primrose Star'

Attractive compact cultivar that grows to around 6m. From New Zealand with fully double pale, lemon-yellow flowers, pink at the edge of the tepals. It needs a sunny spot and fertile soil. Height: up to 3.5m.

Buy Clematis Primrose Star from Gardening Express

Buy Clematis Primrose Star from Primrose

Buy Clematis Primrose Star from the RHS

Clematis 'Freda'

One of the best compact singles, which was discovered by Freda Deacon in her Suffolk garden and later introduced by nurseryman Jim Fisk. Probably a seedling from C. montana var. rubens ‘Pink Perfection’, it has open, lightly fragrant, mauve-pink blooms, which are darker at the edges and displayed against bronze-green leaves. AGM. Hardiness: RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b. Height: up to 4m.

Buy Clematis Freda from Crocus

Buy Clematis Freda from Gardening Express

Buy Clematis Freda from the RHS

Clematis 'The Jewell'

A compact cultivar and Val’s all-time favourite. It produces posies of apple blossom-like blooms, darker on the outside of the tepals, from late spring through to autumn. It is named after David Jewell at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens and has C. chrysocoma in its parentage. Height: up to 4m.

More information on hardiness ratings can be found here.