Use caution to retain stems from last season for best flowering.
Even though some of these cultivars can flower on new growth, these Clematis usually produce the largest flowers on older woody stems from prior years. In spring, prune to remove ends that are damaged or showing no signs of new growth. A good rule of thumb is to cut the stem right above the highest set of fat buds that are breaking growth. You might also want to prune right after the first flowering period of the season to remove damaged vines or to maintain a desired plant size.
