Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Bringing your garden’s beauty to another level, ‘Dr. Ruppel’ Clematis shows off repeatedly and with gusto. Beginning in late spring large six- to eight-inch flowers emerge, in carmine edged with rose. Not content with a single show, free-flowering ‘Dr. Ruppel ‘does it all again in late summer, sending your season off with a bang. This clematis grows lustily to eight to ten feet tall, but only one to two feet wide.
Like the rest of the clematis family, ‘Dr. Ruppel’ resists rabbit and deer, while delighting a host of pollinators, from bees and butterflies to hummingbirds. The seed heads sometimes host hummingbird nests! Given some support, it will make a spectacular focal point in a border, or twining up a trellis or obelisk.
Dr. Ruppel Clematis Care
The best spot for a clematis is a sunny one, but with a little shade at its base, in the form of mulch or a small (shallow-rooted) plant. Dr. Ruppel will still put on a great show in partial shade, however, flowering may be reduced, and coloring not as vivid.
You’ll want to plant ‘Dr. Ruppel’ about two inches lower than he was originally set in his growers’ pot to protect him from winter cold and clematis wilt. Remember if you are growing next to a larger width support, like a fence post, add a bamboo stake, line of twine, or wire to let the vine twine up and get established. The soil should be consistently moist, but never soggy. Take care to water during dry spells the first two years particularly.
For nutrients, you can just top off the soil with a handful of aged cow manure or compost each spring. If you really want to maximize the show, try either one application of slow-release fertilizer in the spring, or a monthly application of liquid types beginning in April and stopping in July. Since he blooms both on old and new growth, pruning for ‘Dr. Ruppel,’ in clematis pruning “Group 2,” consists just of a little off the top in spring – perhaps a foot – after nixing any dead or broken bits and stems.
Dr. Ruppel Clematis Spacing
You’ll want to allow approximately 24 inches for your clematis, although you can plant a non-aggressive companion slightly closer for shading as mentioned above.
Dr. Ruppel Clematis Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 4 to 8 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Part Shade to Full Sun (4+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 8-10 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 2-3 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Climbing
- Water Needs
- Consistently Moist
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , Pink
- Flower Description
- Pink
- Bloom Time
- Late Spring and Late Summer
- Blooms On
-
Both New and Old Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Lightly, right after the first flush of flowers
- Foliage Color
- Foliage Description
- Green
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Spring Flowering, Summer Flowering, Fall Flowering, Fall Interest, 3 Season Interest
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Dr. Ruppel Clematis
- Botanical Name
- Clematis 'Dr. Ruppel'
- Plant Type
- Vine
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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