Best Clematis Nurseries

5 years ago

I had my first look at Clematis today and I was stunned by the variety and complexity of the flowers. How many varieties of Clematis will stay evergreen in zone 9b, all the way down to temperatures under 40F but above freezing?

Which specialty nurseries are the best at Clematis? I know about Brushwood.

Featured Answer

erasmus_gw

5 years ago

Also will add that my other three texensis clems' leaves turned brown and fell off: Princess Diana, Duchesse of Albany and Pagoda. I realize Kate is not technically an evergreen but it did stay green. It is planted fairly close to my house and I think it's a bit warmer there. But other clems in that spot , Blue Angel, Etoile Violette, Tie Dye, and some unnamed one all lost their leaves.

As far as good clematis nurseries go, I appreciate all I've tried...Brushwood, Joy Creek, Silver Star Vinery, Spring Hill, Hirt's, and Donahue's. I think Donahue's is a good value. Small plants, good price, good roots, pretty large selection. Good customer service. I pot up any I get and grow them on till the roots are bigger. Am kind of newish to clems too, westes, and like you am smitten with all the different types of plants and the colors. They're addicting! I have probably bought more than I have room for...up to about 60 varieties over a couple of years but my reasoning is that they take time to mature so I'd better get started.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago
Evergreen? There are only few species of evergreen clematis to begin with and they are all slightly tender....zone 7 and above. And a fair number are not readily available in the trade as they are either uncommon, not particularly showy or have challenging growing requirements.

The ones you will see most often are Clematis armandii, C. cirrhosa and C. xcartmanii. Flowers of these are not very showy - like most species clems, they are small and not very colorful but are produced in profusion in winter and early spring and often fragrant.

My preferred mail order clematis specialty nursery is Joy Creek. A big selection, they offer a lot of less common varieties (including a number of the evergreen ones) and they ship big, healthy plants.
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay
Original Author
5 years ago
@gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9) Clematis armandii looks like it competes well against Jasmine.
Related Professionals
Leominster Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Terre Haute Landscape Contractors · Santa Fe Landscape Contractors · New Orleans Architects & Building Designers · Fort Collins Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Hopkinsville Landscape Contractors · North Platte Design-Build Firms · Olean Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Evanston Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Magnolia Landscape Contractors · Charlotte Landscape Contractors · Waterloo Landscape Contractors · El Paso Landscape Contractors · Lewiston Landscape Contractors · Seattle Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago
Clematis armandii can compete against just about anything :)
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
erasmus_gw
5 years ago
My clematis, Princess Kate, was evergreen all winter. I hated to cut it back because it looked wonderful, but I did. I'm in zone 7a , NC
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked erasmus_gw
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago
In mild winters or in milder climates, some clems are reluctant to drop their foliage but that does not make them evergreen :-) Princess Kate is a texensis hybrid, so not one of the evergreen species and a group 3 or hard prune variety at that. All the evergreens clems are group 1's or no prune vines. And the evergreen types bloom when no other clems do - in winter or in very early spring......by March at the latest.
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
erasmus_gw
5 years ago
Well, the leaves were green and they weren't old looking. They were fresh and alive and healthy looking, not just hanging on there type of leaves. I wish I had taken a picture. Maybe next year. I suppose a leaf can hang on there and eventually fall...maybe they would have, but the whole thing looked like it would just keep on going with the leaves and stems it had.
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked erasmus_gw
TheJknotFiles
5 years ago
I agree with Linda. This is Alana, btw, on my husband's phone. Donahue's did go up on their prices this year, so Brushwood, is the best in my opinion, with shipping included, and size. I also love buying off Ebay. There is a person I but from that has them at the best price. Can not recall the name right now.
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked TheJknotFiles