Clematis propagation

Climbing clematis can be propagated by seeds, cuttings and layering. Seeds can germinate well if sown in autumn, left outside for a winter chill and brought into warmth in spring, but the seeds must be fresh in order to be successful. Seeds of named cultivars will not breed true to their parents because of their hybrid origin and mixed genes, and they may take several years to reach flowering size. To grow a plant identical to the parent, cuttings must be taken. This is usually done in July, from the current season’s growth. A whole new shoot should be removed and the top 12in (30cm) cut off, which will be very soft and sappy. Then the shoot is cut into several sections, each with a pair of leaves. The stem should be cut immediately above the pair of leaves and the base of the cutting trimmed approximately 3in (8cm) below them. The result will produce a T-shaped cutting, with the leaves at the top and a bare stem below, quite unlike most cuttings. Approximately half the leaves are trimmed off to reduce water loss, and the cuttings inserted into pots of at least 4in (10cm) deep, with a gritty cuttings mix made up of half perlite and half compost. The node, where the leaves meet the stem, should be at or below soil level. Kept in a moist, warm place, out of direct sunlight, the cuttings should root by autumn and produce new shoots in spring, if not before. If only one new plant is required, it is usually possible to bring a stem to soil level and peg it down or hold it in place with a stone. The bark should be scraped away on one side or a slanting cut made halfway through the stem and covered with some soil and a stone. After approximately one year, the shoot will have rooted and can be cut away and replanted when dormant.