climbing clematis

Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
Price range: Contact Us
Rating: 4.8/5

Climbing clematis is a favourite among New Zealand gardeners, offering a stunning way to add vertical interest, lush foliage, and vibrant blooms to your outdoor spaces. With their remarkable climbing ability, these versatile vines bring fences, walls, pergolas, and trellises to life, creating a cloak of colour and texture that lasts for months. Whether you’re new to climbing plants or an experienced gardener seeking new varieties, there’s a climbing clematis to suit every garden style, from cottage settings to modern landscapes.

Clematis montana 'Rubens'

Clematis montana ‘Rubens’ is a vigorous and stunning deciduous climber known for its profusion of soft pink, vanilla-scented flowers in spring. The blooms contrast beautifully with the bronze-tinged foliage, creating an impressive display on fences, pergolas, and trellises. Perfect for covering large areas quickly, ‘Rubens’ thrives in most NZ gardens and rewards with low maintenance and long-lasting beauty. It’s a classic choice for adding romance, colour, and fragrance to outdoor spaces.

Buy Clematis montana 'Rubens'

From $37.19

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Climbers

Height: 3.00 m

Spread: 3.00 m

Flowering time: Spring, Summer

Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy

Garden uses: Arches, Living areas, Parks, Specimen

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern

Rhaphidophora decursiva

5

Rhaphidophora decursiva (Dragon Tail Plant) is a striking tropical climber known for its large, deeply split leaves that become more dramatic as the plant matures. This fast growing plant adds a lush, jungle like feel to indoor spaces and sheltered NZ gardens. Ideal for climbing supports or large containers, it offers bold foliage and strong visual impact.

Buy Rhaphidophora decursiva

From $53.75

Suited to regions: Subtropical

Plant type: Indoor Plants

Height: 40 cm

Spread: 70 cm

Tolerances: Shade

Garden uses: Arches, Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps

Garden styles: Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Modern, Tropical, White

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Bougainvillea, Clematis, Ficus, Grape, Hedera, Metrosideros Rhaphidophora and Rose, or related Categories - Moss Poles, Deciduous Climbers, Evergreen Climbers, Grapevines, Indoor Plants Climbing Roses and Evergreen Shrubs.

Search climbing clematis

Why Choose Climbing Clematis for Your Garden?

Climbing clematis is beloved for its impressive display of flowers—often appearing in abundance from spring through late autumn. The varied shapes, colours, and flowering times among different varieties make it easy to keep your garden in continuous bloom and buzzing with pollinators. These climbers are also incredibly adaptable, thriving in both sunny and semi-shaded areas and fitting well into everything from small courtyard gardens to rambling country estates.

Popular Climbing Clematis Varieties

Gardeners have a wealth of choices when selecting the perfect climbing clematis. For those who love classic charm, Clematis montana 'Snowflake' is a star performer. This robust variety bursts into clouds of white flowers in spring, making it ideal for covering fences and garden sheds.

For those seeking deep hues, Clematis 'Honora' offers spectacular purple blooms and a reliable climbing habit. If you’re after something more unusual, Clematis hookeriana brings delicate, pale blossoms and is especially valued for its late-season interest.

Want elegant, large-flowered varieties? Clematis 'Elsa Spath' produces showy lavender-blue petals, while Clematis 'Henryi' is renowned for its pure white, dramatic blooms. Each of these varieties delivers a stunning accent to arches, pergolas, and even container plantings.

Growing and Caring for Climbing Clematis

One of the joys of growing climbing clematis is their adaptability. These vines prefer well-drained soil and benefit from a 'cool roots, warm tops' approach: mulch around the base or plant groundcovers to shade their roots, and position them where the climbing growth reaches sunlight. Regular feeding supports strong flowering, and with correct pruning (which varies between varieties), you’ll enjoy healthy, vigorous plants year after year.

Support is key—ensure your climbing clematis has a trellis, wire frame, or neighbouring shrubs to twine around. Water deeply during dry spells, particularly in their early years or when grown in containers.

Creative Ideas for Using Climbing Clematis

Whether you want to soften a stark wall, camouflage an old fence, or frame an entryway, climbing clematis is up to the task. Mix and match different varieties, such as Clematis montana 'Snowflake', Clematis 'Elsa Spath', and Clematis 'Henryi', for a succession of blooms and a tapestry of colours throughout the season.

For more garden inspiration and to discover the full range of climbing clematis that thrive in New Zealand conditions, explore our carefully selected varieties and enjoy years of colour, fragrance, and vertical beauty in your garden.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.