Rubens Clematis

Light Needs

Partial Shade to Full Sun

(At Least 3 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

8-10 Feet

Mature Spread

4-6 Feet

Growing Zones

6 to 9

Here is a Clematis with an aptitude for grandeur! Growing up to 25 feet tall or long, here is the rambler you have been looking for for your gazebo, trellis, terrace or to scramble up your home or potting shed to great effect. Soft pink to dark pink flowers are contrasted by dark bronze green leaves on this prolific vine. This is the GrandDaddy of Clematis vines! Plant these lovely perennial vines where you can appreciate their light vanilla scent. Rubens is one of the earliest blooming clematis, showing off in late spring when other clematis are just getting started. They will bloom about 4 weeks and are great when paired with other later blooming clematis for nearly non-stop color.

Native to China and then to Japan, and growing in Zones 6 to 9, Rubens is going to be a mainstay in the garden this spring. Indigenous to mountainous regions of Asia, this vine is used to clambering up a rocky hillside or structure. It makes a great cover for a not so pretty area in your landscape with its soft four petaled single flowers and dramatic dark foliage. Its flowers are simple, but there are so many of them, they make up for that simplicity. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds will be frequent visitors to this lovely vine. You are going to enjoy this clematis in your garden this spring.

Rubens Clematis Care

As with most Clematis you will want to shelter the root zones with a ground cover or a mulch to keep their feet cool. They prefer an acidic to neutral soil, and will grow in clay, sand and loamy soil as long as it drains well. Clematis do best in full sun and will tolerate light shade for a portion of the day, especially in hot summer sun regions. This is a climbing vine, so support is needed, whether it is a trellis, an arbor, a fence or a terrace rock wall. Keep the soil consistently moist for best results. Rubens is more resistant to clematis wilt than other varieties and is not bothered by pests in general. Rabbits and deer rarely browse on them. Fertilize them in the spring with a slow release low nitrogen fertilizer, or simply work in well composted organic material when first planting and yearly in the spring thereafter. Mulch root zone to protect against frost heaving, especially in the harsher winter zones.

Deadheading promotes repeat blooming. Clip the spent flower back to the first set of leaves for a clean look. This vine will be covered in blooms all spring into summer. Harvest the lovely soft pink blooms for indoor floral arrangements. Rubens Clematis is in Pruning group 1. This vine produces flowers on last year's growth (old wood).Prune only when flowering has ceased for the year as this plant blooms on last year’s wood. Aggressive pruning is not necessary, just prune to shape and maintain good health.

Rubens Clematis Spacing

Space your plants about 48 to 72 inches apart. This is a tall rambling vine, growing up to 25 feet in length or more, and spreading out up to 6 feet wide. It will ramble up anything in its path, so provide support. Avoid planting in extremely windy areas. As a late spring bloomer, Rubens will extend the color season for you when planted with late summer blooming clematis, giving you a full season of dramatic color combinations.

SKU:

CLEMR