Compost Autumn Clematis

Autumn clematis vines in one of my composters. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Compost Autumn Clematis

I have a soft spot for climbers and especially the beauty and scent of autumn clematis. Although beautiful, they are not native to my Missouri USDA Hardiness zone 5 garden.

The challenge is that these hardy perennial vines can easily get out of hand and take over; I see hillsides covered in them mid-summer. As a responsible gardener, if I am going to plant them then I need to keep them in check.

Autumn clematis growing on my cattle panel arbors. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins

During the growing season, I keep them trimmed and bushy. They grow over several bent cattle panels forming arbors over hillside pathways.

Once they bloom and before they go to seed, I cut the autumn clematis vines to soil level and compost. The idea is to prevent them from spreading where they aren’t welcome.

The best option would be not to plant these at all and find something as pretty and interesting but less invasive.

Let’s see what I can find for next year.

Charlotte

Mystery Clematis Identified!

Mystery Clematis Identified!

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to dig up plants from a neighbor's property getting bulldozed by the new owner. There were a LOT of plants so I invited a friend almost as crazy as I am about gardening to help me dig up the site.

We didn't always know what we were digging up. If it looked different than grass, it was dug up and we would sort it out later.

One of the big stashes we brought home was a collection of clematis vines. They were all over the property, at various stages of development. It was easier to dig up the starts than the more established ones so we focused on the younger ones. 

I planted several vines at the corners of the cedar fence in front of my house, having no clue what flowers might show up.

The mystery clematis vines growing over my cedar fence turned out to be autumn clematis.

Early August, the vines started to entertain tiny white flowers. These vines turned out to be Sweet Autumn Clematis vines, a beautiful snowly-like scene of blooms with a lovely scent and a vine I was hoping someday to add to my garden.

Once established, Sweet Autumn Clematis vines are beautiful late summer bloomers.

This more established Sweet Autumn Clematis vine growing over a neighbor's tree.

Sweet Autumn Clematis is a hardy climber, I see the vine growing all over mid-Missouri from simple fences to garden arbors.

To keep the vine in check, I have read to cut the stems back to 12 inches in spring. The vines can reach 30 feet.

It blooms on the current year's growth. I have also read it's unusual to see blooms the first year so I feel privileged that I can identify what these vines are still this year.

Unlike many Clematis, who prefer cool shade on roots and sun on vines, Sweet Autumn Clematis will thrive and bloom well in partial shade. 

Wonderful surprise!

Charlotte