Clematis is best known as a woody or semi-woody vine with a rapid growth rate. It is a multi-stemmed vine that climbs primarily on supportive structures by twining leaf petioles. Clematis has beautiful showy flowers.

Clematis has many floral choices of size and color depending upon the type and cultivar. Individual flowers have sepals (they are the showy portions, instead of the petals) often as large as 4" to 6" wide, that are usually white, yellow, pink, red, violet, purple, blue, or sometimes bicolored or with a stripe down the center. The blooming period for all types of Clematis is May through mid-October, with Spring, Summer or Autumn flowering periods for individual cultivars; many late spring and early Summer flowering cultivars will sporadically re-bloom in late Summer and early Autumn. The foliage is a medium to dark green. This flowering vine may mature at 5 feet to 20 feet depending upon the variety.

Clematis prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. With few exceptions, Clematis needs some type of continues, thin lattice-type support. Most Clematis can be pruned hard every late Autumn or late Winter, since most Clematis flower on new growth. However, a few species flower exclusively on old wood so it is important to know what you have.

Clematis can be used as cover for trellises, fences, arbors, mailboxes, rock walls, columns, or other upright structures. Some gardeners like to train Clematis up a tree to add color or create an different look.