Kilian Donahue Clematis

Light Needs

Partial Shade to Full Sun

(At Least 3 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

8-10 Feet

Mature Spread

2 Feet

Growing Zones

4 to 9

This beauty makes a statement from across the garden! Kilian Donahue’s large 5-inch flowers change over time, stunning in both aspects. The flowers emerge orchid pink with a raspberry flare, and then fade to lavender and pink, creating a wonderfully layered effect as if you had two vines in one! Kilian is an excellent rebloomer, offering multiple summer shows to you and your visiting pollinators, from butterflies and bees to hummingbirds.

Kilian only grows to about 10 feet tall and 2 feet wide, making it very easy to fit in this stunning vine in any full-sun location needing some vertical embellishment, whether in a container or the landscape. Clematis lightly twine, so it will appreciate a guide in the form of a stake, twine, or wire to grow up if you are training it on a wide structure like a porch rail or an arbor. The bonus of this habit is that they can also be grown into shrubs who bloom at other times of year to bring some extra bloom to that spot. Like other clematis, deer and rabbit keep it off their menu. You can bring the flowers inside to enjoy, since they make good cut flowers as well.

Kilian Donahue Clematis Care

For optimal performance, choose a full sun location as you’ll probably see reduced growth in even partial shade, though Kilian Donahue will tolerate that. Bury the plant 2 inches lower than it was growing to ward off clematis wilt and heaves from frost-thaw cycles, and then mulch the plant to keep its roots nice and cool. Clematis love even moisture, water well the first few growing seasons during hot or dry spells.

Pruning for “group 2” clematis like Kilian Donahue is a matter of a minimal snip in early spring. Just clip about one foot all around and take out any dead or broken branches.

Some compost or aged cow manure should be all the fertilizer Kilian Donahue needs, but if desired, limit the fertilizer to a one-time application in spring of a controlled (slow)- release type, or if using liquid, apply monthly from April until July.

Kilian Donahue Clematis Spacing

Allow approximately two feet between plants from Kilian Donahue clematis for ideal air circulation.