Avante-Garde Clematis

Light Needs

Partial Shade to Full Sun

(At Least 3 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

8-10 Feet

Mature Spread

2-3 Feet

Growing Zones

4 to 9

Looking for all the world like it leapt out of the pages of an old world antique flower album, Avant Garde Clematis makes a powerful visual statement with its lavender/pink flower with yellow stamens on top of crepe-like cupped red outer petals. This large, aggressive growing perennial vine is going to quickly climb up any trellis or wall you provide for it and give you a long lasting show of blooms from midsummer until fall. It blooms on new wood each year, making pruning before the new growth appears each spring easy for you. If you are only going to plant one species of Clematis this year, choose this one. You will not regret it!

Most Clematis species are native to China and Japan, and have been hybridized since the 1800’s. The love affair with Clematis never stopped, prompting horticulturists to develop new colors and growth habits, bringing us a plethora of beautiful perennial vines to choose from. Hardy in Zones 4 to 9, clematis belong to a group of plants that prefer their roots to be cool and their heads to be hot, so mulch or supply ground cover of some sort for best performance, especially in the hottest months of summer.

Avante-Garde Clematis Care

Care and maintenance of Clematis begins with providing it support to grow on. As an aggressive upright grower, Clematis will cling to anything in its path and as its gardener, will look to you to provide it some support. A large trellis, a rock wall or terrace, or simply leaving it to spread out on the ground are some options that are available to you. Preferring to be in full sun with some afternoon shade tolerated, Clematis will appreciate being planted in sandy loam soil. Amend heavy clays to improve drainage as it does not tolerate wet soggy soils. It will grow best in slightly acidic to neutral soil, with regular waterings when natural rainfall is inadequate. Keep soil evenly moist for best results. Fertilize with a slow release general fertilizer like a 10-10-10, or if you are getting too much foliage and not enough blooms, use a rose or tomato fertilizer to cut down on the nitrogen ratio. Mulch root zone, especially in harsher winter regions.

Avante-Garde Clematis is in pruning group 3. Deadheading is not required as new buds will develop as the old flowers are spent. Pruning should be reserved for shaping an unruly vine, or in late winter just prior to new growth emerging in the spring. This clematis blooms on new growth, so trim stems back to about 3 feet above the ground, just above a swollen leaf bud. It will quickly grow to full size again by the end of the season.

Avante-Garde Clematis Spacing

Spacing is crucial for Clematis as they are opportunistic growers, and will grab anything in its path to continue their climb to the sun. Allow 24 to 30 inches of space between plantings. Avant Garde Clematis can reach 8 to 10 feet in height and spread out about 24 inches. Air circulation is important to stop the possibility of clematis wilt from occurring. Keep ground debris away from the base of the plant, and remove any wilted portions of your vine immediately at first sign of wilt. If the entire vine is affected, trim down to the ground and it will regrow on its unaffected roots. You are going to enjoy growing Avant Garde Clematis, especially if this is your first time growing this lovely species of perennial.