Clematis Elizabeth Clematis 'Elizabeth' (M)

Water

The Clematis 'Elizabeth', commonly known as the Queen of the Vines, thrives when its soil is kept evenly moist, especially during the growing season. Water it deeply once a week, providing about 1.5 gallons per plant to ensure the roots receive ample moisture. During more intense summer heat, the frequency may need to increase to twice per week. Always check the soil before watering; if the top inch is dry, it's time to water. Avoid overhead watering to minimize the risk of leaf diseases and concentrate the water at the base of the plant.

Light

The Queen of the Vines prefers a location where it can receive around 6 hours of sunlight daily. However, it's crucial to provide some afternoon shade in hotter climates to prevent scorching. A site with morning sun and dappled afternoon light is ideal as it fosters abundant flowering without subjecting the plant to harsh midday heat.

Temperature

The Clematis 'Elizabeth', or Queen of the Vines, is best suited to temperatures between 45°F and 70°F for optimal growth. It can tolerate a minimum temperature of around 20°F and a maximum of about 85°F. To ensure its health and flowering, try to keep it away from harsh temperature extremes and protect it from cold winter winds.

Pruning

The Queen of the Vines should be pruned to promote vigorous growth and better flowering. Annual pruning involves cutting back the previous year's stems to a pair of strong buds about 1 foot off the ground before the new growth starts in late winter or early spring. After the initial blooming, lightly pruning can encourage a second round of flowers. The timing for major pruning is late winter, ensuring dead or weak stems are removed to maintain plant health and aesthetics.

Cleaning

As needed

Soil

Clematis, commonly known as Queen of the Climbers, thrives best in a well-draining, loamy soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH level, around 7.0. A good soil mix for clematis includes two parts garden soil, one part compost, and one part perlite to improve drainage. Mulching helps maintain consistent moisture levels, but be sure to keep mulch away from the base to prevent rot.

Repotting

Clematis plants generally require repotting every two to three years to refresh the soil and accommodate root growth. Queen of the Climbers should be repotted in the spring before the growing season begins, ensuring minimal disruption to the plant's growth cycle.

Humidity & Misting

Clematis, or Queen of the Climbers, prefers a moderate humidity level, similar to what is typically found in outdoor environments. Although specific humidity levels are not critical for this plant, it is important that the plant has good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases.

Suitable locations

• Indoor

  Plant in large pot with support for climbing; place in bright, indirect light.

• Outdoor

  Plant in well-drained soil with support to climb; full sun to part shade.

• Hardiness zone

  4-9 USDA

Life cycle

The Clematis 'Elizabeth', commonly known as Clematis, begins its life as a seed, which, after germination, develops into a small seedling with basic leaf structures to harness sunlight. It progresses to a vegetative stage, where it experiences rapid stem and leaf growth, resulting in a mature plant capable of climbing with support. During the flowering stage, the Clematis 'Elizabeth' produces large, pale pink flowers with a distinct vanilla scent, typically in late spring to early summer. After pollination, possibly involving insects, it enters the fruiting stage where it develops seed heads known as achenes, each with a plumose tail. Once mature, seeds may disperse, often with the help of wind due to their feathery tails. The plant continues through a dormant phase during winter, where growth ceases until conditions again become favorable in spring.

Propogation

• Propogation time

  Spring-Early Summer

• Propogation: Clematis 'Elizabeth', commonly known as Clematis, is best propagated during the springtime when the plant is entering its active growth phase. The most popular method of propagation for Clematis 'Elizabeth' is by softwood cuttings. This involves taking a 4 to 6 inch (10-15 cm) cutting from a healthy, young stem that has not yet flowered. The leaves on the lower half of the cutting should be removed, and the cut end dipped in rooting hormone to encourage root development. Then the cutting is planted in a pot filled with a mix of peat and perlite, ensuring at least one set of leaves is above the soil surface. The soil should be kept moist but not waterlogged, and the pot should be placed in a warm, well-lit area, but out of direct sunlight, to promote rooting. After a few weeks, when roots have established, the new Clematis plant can be transplanted into the garden.