Enjoy Evergreen Clematis Armandii

Clematis armandii is a star among vines. Not only is it evergreen while most Clematis are deciduous, it boasts a marvelous fragrance. Flowers are white with touches of pale pink. Clematis are separated into different classes, with specific pruning times for each (see below). Armand Clematis blooms on old wood, meaning stems that are at least a year old. Pruning keeps the vines from developing into a congested thicket, and should be done immediately after bloom petals drop.

Armand blooms in early spring, attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Glossy, narrow leaves are leathery with a thick texture. Plants are hardy in zones 7 through 9. They are rarely damaged by deer, but can cause a rash on gardeners with sensitive skin. Gloves are recommended, especially when pruning. Plants are toxic to people and pets.

This Clematis is thin stemmed with a delicate appearance but is a vigorous grower, and will reach 15 feet or more. Stems climb by twining around trellises or other supports. Vines drape gracefully and will sway in the breeze. Use on fences to provide privacy with a narrow footprint. Like other members of the Clematis clan, Armand prefers a cool home for its roots and a sunny (or mostly sunny) spot for its top growth. A mulched root zone will shade the roots against overheating and help to keep soil damp. Soil should be neutral to slightly alkaline, with plenty of organic matter. Plants will not tolerate wet soil.

There are two possible pronunciations for Clematis: kle-MA-tis or KLEM-a-tis.

Here is a cursory overview on Clematis pruning:

For purposes of maintenance, Clematis are grouped into three classes. Group 1 blooms on new wood only. Trimming should be restricted to the removal of dead wood and just enough shaping to keep them neat. These are the earliest Clematis to flower. Group 2 blooms on both new and old wood. Prune immediately after flowering ends. Trim only 6-8 inches. The goal is to force new growth, not to reduce size. Vines in this class bloom later than the first group. Group 3 is the easiest of all. Clematis in this class go dormant in winter. Cut off the dead vines just above ground level in winter. I usually handle this chore in late February, just after pruning hybrid tea roses. Since this class regenerates entirely each season, it is the last to bloom.

Of all Clematis, ‘Roguchi’ is my favorite cultivar. It is a lovely, long-blooming plant that will get a blog posts all its own, soon.

Evergreen Vine, Confederate Jasmine

If you seek a fast-growing evergreen vine, consider Confederate Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides, pronounced tray-key-low-SPER-mum jaz-min-OY-deez).  It is not a ‘true’ jasmine (Jasminum genus). This lovely vine has pointed, shiny, dark green leaves. Small, very fragrant star-shaped flowers appear in summer, giving rise to its common name, Star Jasmine.

Confederate Jasmine can be grown on a trellis or allowed to scramble over the soil as a ground cover. It is cold hardy zones 7b through 11, but grows fast enough to enjoy as an annual in colder climates. It prefers shade from the hottest afternoon sun. Too much shade will produce vine stems with long spaces between the leaves (internodes). The one in the Mary Snoddy garden is planted at the north-east corner of a building, a sun exposure that makes it happy.

Confederate Jasmine is undemanding. It will grow in most soils and is moderately drought tolerant. While it twines naturally, it does not have suckers to adhere to surfaces. If grown on a trellis, the vine will need to be wired to the structure in a few places. A mature vine can be heavy, so select a sturdy support. It can be an ideal privacy-maker if grown on fencing.

Confederate Jasmine can be trimmed to keep it compact. When cut, the vines produce a milky sap that can cause skin irritation. If you choose to root those cuttings into new plants, allow the sap to dry several hours before placing them into rooting compound.  

My favorite cultivar is ‘Madison’ because of its reblooming habit. Variegated forms are available. They grow slower than the non-variegated type and are more difficult to propagate via rootings. Deer don’t nibble on this plant. Bees love the flowers.

Confederate Jasmine used as a ground cover, creeping over a stucco wall.

This Confederate Jasmine grows on a sturdy trellis. Mature vines like this one can be quite heavy.