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Clematis ‘The President’ (Early Large-Flowered Clematis)

Early Large-Flowered Clematis 'The President'

AGM Award
Clematis 'The President', Early Large-Flowered Clematis 'The President', group 2 clematis, purple clematis, Clematis Vine, Clematis Plant, Flower Vines, Clematis Flower, Clematis Pruning

One of the most popular Clematis, ‘The President’ is a deciduous vine that gets covered with a profusion of impressively large star-shaped flowers, up to 7 in. (18 cm), in shades of rich violet-blue, with 8 overlapping sepals that are silver beneath. The filaments are white-tinged with pinkish to deep reds. Lovely! A gardener’s favorite since its introduction in 1876!

  • Blooming in late spring to early summer and late summer to early fall, this vigorous and extremely floriferous Clematis vine won the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society for its noteworthy qualities.
  • It thrives in moist, well-drained soils in full sun or 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. Afternoon shade is appreciated in hot summer areas.
  • Hardy, it is incredibly free-flowering and can quickly grow up to 6-10 ft. long (180-300 cm).
  • Excellent choice for trellis, it can be trained to climb a wall, fence, or arbor and is also well suited to containers. Combines beautifully with other climbers such as Roses. It will pair magnificently with Rose ‘Kir Royal’, Rose ‘James Galway‘, or Rose ‘A Shropshire Lad‘.
  • This Clematis belongs to the second group of Clematis – a group including Clematis, which flower in early summer on short shoots developing from the last year’s growth. Some flower again in late summer on new growth. These Clematis vines should be pruned in late winter or early spring before new growth starts and after the first flush of flowers in early summer.
  • Prune in late winter or early spring: Remove dead or weak stems before growth begins. Check individual stems from the top down until you reach a pair of healthy buds, and prune just above them, removing the spindly or damaged growth above. Avoid heavy pruning or flowers will be lost.
  • Then prune again after the first flush of flowers: To encourage a second flush later in the season, prune back some stems by cutting to large buds or a strong side shoot immediately below the blooms. Top-heavy or overgrown plants can be gradually reduced over two to three seasons by pruning back harder after the first flush of flowers. They are unlikely to produce a second flush of flowers but should flower again in late spring or early summer the following year.
  • Alternatively, leave clematis in this group unpruned, and then hard prune them to 30-90cm (1–3ft) from the base every three or four years in late winter (as for pruning group three). In the first year after renovation, they will only flower once.
  • Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.

As climbers, Clematis are unsurpassed in their long flowering presence, their rich diversity of flower shapes, and their 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 year after year a ravishing colorful show in the garden 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.

Clematis: How to Grow and Care with Success


Want to learn how to grow and care for clematis like a pro? Follow these simple steps and enjoy the beauty of these striking plants

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 11
Heat Zones 1 - 9
Climate Zones 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A2, A3
Plant Type Climbers
Plant Family Ranunculaceae
Genus Clematis
Common names Clematis
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early, Late)
Fall
Height 6' - 10'
(180cm - 3m)
Spread 4' - 6'
(120cm - 180cm)
Spacing 48" - 72"
(120cm - 180cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance Deer, Rabbit
Attracts Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Arbors, Pergolas, Trellises, Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers, Wall-Side Borders, Walls And Fences
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Traditional Garden, Informal and Cottage
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Clematis
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Clematis ‘Betty Corning’ (Viticella Group)
Clematis armandii (Evergreen Group)
Clematis cirrhosa var. purpurascens ‘Freckles’ (Evergreen Group)
Clematis ‘Pixie’ (Evergreen Group)
Clematis x cartmanii ‘Avalanche’ (Evergreen Group)
Clematis montana var. wilsonii (Montana Group)

Recommended Companion Plants

Rosa James Galway (English Rose)
Rosa A Shropshire Lad (English Rose)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

A Cheerful Border Idea with Monarda, Clematis and Artemisia
A Super Climbing Duo with Clematis ‘The President’
Pure White Flowers for a Touch of Elegance in Your Garden
Stunning Blue Flowers to Enhance Your Garden’s Beauty
30 Best Spring Flowers to Spruce up Your Garden
Clematis
Clematis Types – Which one is yours?
Clematis – Early Large-Flowered Group
Clematis – Viticella Group
Pretty Roses and Clematis Combination Ideas (Part 1)
Clematis – Late Large-Flowered Group
Clematis – Orientalis Group
Clematis – Herbaceous Group
Clematis – Evergreen Group
Clematis – Montana Group
Clematis – Atragene Group
Great Clematis for the Lower South Region
Great Clematis for the Coastal South Region
Combining Roses and Clematis
Great Clematis for the Middle South Region
Great Clematis for the Upper South Region
Combine Late-Flowering Clematis with your Climbing Roses
Pretty Roses and Clematis Combination Ideas (Part 3)
Pretty Roses and Clematis Combination Ideas (Part 2)
Clematis Blooming Seasons
Combine Early-Flowering Clematis with your Climbing Roses
Great Clematis for New England
Great Clematis for the Pacific Northwest
Great Clematis for the Midwest
Pretty Clematis for Small Gardens
Pretty Clematis for your Containers
Native Plant Alternatives to Clematis paniculata (Sweet Autumn Clematis)
Clematis: How to Grow and Care with Success
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
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Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 11
Heat Zones 1 - 9
Climate Zones 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A2, A3
Plant Type Climbers
Plant Family Ranunculaceae
Genus Clematis
Common names Clematis
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early, Late)
Fall
Height 6' - 10'
(180cm - 3m)
Spread 4' - 6'
(120cm - 180cm)
Spacing 48" - 72"
(120cm - 180cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance Deer, Rabbit
Attracts Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Arbors, Pergolas, Trellises, Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers, Wall-Side Borders, Walls And Fences
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Traditional Garden, Informal and Cottage
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Clematis
Guides with
Clematis
Not sure which Clematis to pick?
Compare Now

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