Clematis ‘Pixie’ (Evergreen Group)

Prized for its profuse early blooms, Clematis ‘Pixie’ is a compact, evergreen, spreading or trailing shrub boasting a profusion of small, sweetly fragrant, lime-yellow flowers in late spring to early summer. Borne on purple-tinted stems, they create a beautiful display against the finely-divided, dark-green leaves. Pixie clematis results from a cross between C. petriei ‘Princess’ and C. marmoraria, both evergreen New Zealand species. Ideal where space is limited.

• Grows up to 3-4 ft. long (90-120 cm).
• Thrives in gritty, well-drained soils, in full sun to part shade. Ideally, Clematis prefer having their ‘heads in the sun and their feet in the shade’. Keep the roots cool and shaded by other plants or add a layer of pebbles or flat stones at the base. This clematis needs protection from drying winter winds.
• This Clematis belongs to the first group of Clematis – a group including Early-flowering clematis that flower on shoots produced in the previous summer: No regular pruning required. Just clean them up after flowering.
• Plant with the crown 2-3 in. deep (5-8 cm) to encourage shoots to grow from below ground level.
• Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings or layering.
• Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.

As climbers, Clematis are unsurpassed in their long flowering presence, the rich diversity of flower shapes, and a wide array of colors and tolerances in terms of exposure and climate. It is no wonder they are so popular! From tree huggers to container varieties, there is a Clematis for every garden and flowers for almost every month of the year! Members of the Ranunculaceae family, they include more than 300 species and hundreds of hybrids. They create a ravishing colorful show in the garden year after year, whether solely trained on walls, arbors, or trellises or grown in association with other climbers. They are divided into 3 groups which determine how they should be pruned. Regular pruning of Clematis is important as it promotes strong growth and flowering as well as a harmonious plant. If left unpruned, Clematis can turn into a mass of tangled stems with a bare base and flowers well above eye level.