While not all are considered cold hardy clematis vines, many of the popular varieties of clematis can be grown in zone 4, with the proper care. Use the information in this article to help determine suitable clematis for cold climates of zone 4.
Choosing Zone 4 Clematis Vines
Jackmanii is probably the most popular and reliable zone 4 clematis vine. Its deep purple flowers bloom first in spring and then again in late summer through fall, blooming on new wood. Sweet Autumn is another popular cold hardy clematis vine. It is covered in small, white, extremely fragrant flowers in late summer through fall. Listed below are additional clematis varieties for zone 4.
Chevalier – large, lavender-purple blooms
Rebecca – bright red blooms
Princess Diana – dark pink, tulip-shaped flowers
Niobe – deep red flowers
Nelly Moser – light pink flowers with dark pink-red stripes down each petal
Josephine – double lilac-pink flowers
Duchess of Albany – tulip-shaped, light to dark pink blooms
Bee’s Jubilee – small pink and red flowers
Andromeda – semi-double, white-pink flowers
Ernest Markham – large, magenta-red blooms
Avant Garde – burgundy flowers, with pink, double centers
Innocent Blush – semi-double flowers with “blushes” of dark pink
Fireworks – purple flower with dark purple-red stripes down each petal
Growing Clematis in Zone 4 Gardens
Clematis like moist but well-draining soil in a site where their “feet” or root zone is shaded, and their “head” or aerial parts of the plant are in the sun.
In northern climates, cold hardy clematis vines that bloom on new wood should be cut back in late autumn to winter and heavily mulched for winter protection.
Cold hardy clematis that bloom on old wood should only be deadheaded as needed throughout the blooming season, but the root zone should also be heavily mulched as protection through winter.
