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Sweet Autumn Clematis Vine

Clematis terniflora 'Sweet Autumn'

$22.65
$22.65 $0.00
per Plant - 4" Pot
Sale |
ZONES  5-9 | Good to grow! Zone

Sweet Autumn Clematis is the famous vine for a great arbor-covering cloud of small white flowers in summer and fall. (Clematis)

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Description

Sweet Autumn Clematis is a species separate from the large-flowered types, and equally famous in its own right. This is the large, strong-growing vine that covers fences and arbors and produces a striking, billowing cloud of fragrant flowers in late summer and fall. If you need screening along a high fence, or have an arbor as gateway to your garden, this is the plant you need.

Sweet Autumn is a type 3 Clematis. Clematis in this group are later season bloomers and flower from buds developed in the current growing season. They should be cut back hard in late winter or early spring to stimulate a large flush or new growth.

Planting & Care

Growing Clematis: If you're already a clematis grower, you know all this. But if you're not, here's all you need to know.

First of all, there are several kinds of clematis, but most people want to grow the large-flowered types. For some info on the others, go to the bottom of this page.

Basic Requirements: First of all, clematis vines always want their roots shaded, and the plant growing up into full sun. That means you can put some shallow-rooted groundcover around the roots, or simply some mulch--just something to keep the hot sun off the root run, and promote moisture retention in that spot. But be sure your vine grows into plenty of sunlight, which promotes heavy flowering.

Soil is important. Clematis do best in neutral or slightly alkaline soils, but they are somewhat adaptable. If you have very acid soil, try to add some calcium when you plant. Also, be sure to dig the hole deep. Remember you're planning to have this plant in place for decades.

Where to plant is important. These incredible vines are some of the most beautiful flowering plants, and we've all seen them blooming lavishly on fences, porches and trellises. They're not really hard to grow, and they get larger and stronger every year. Sometimes they take their time getting going, so be patient. It usually takes about two years for a newly-planted vine to come into its own. The large-flowered types are hardy into the very cold north, so almost everyone can use them. Be sure to place yours so it has something to climb---fence, trellis, or post.

Winter and spring care are important. In very cold places (like Vermont, where I grew them for years), the winter kills the whole vine right down to the dirt. They actually disappear. Then in the spring, they are somewhat slow to emerge, so you must protect the spot, and watch for the shoots. Once they pop up, they grow fast, but beware--they are brittle! If you happen to break off the young spring shoots, it sets the vine back terribly, so its important to watch and care for the new shoots until they really get going up your post or trellis.

Once that happens, it helps to gently guide the vining shoots as they find their way upward. You can actually arrange your vine as it grows, but again, be gentle; the stems remain brittle. Soon you'll see buds, and then suddenly one day, they begin to open. Most popular clematis varieties open incredibly large flowers, often as large as 5 to 8 across. 

Further Reading

Shipping

As soon as your order is placed you will receive a confirmation email. You will receive a second email the day your order ships telling you how it has been sent. Some perennials are shipped as potted plants, some as perennial roots packed in peat.  The ‘Plant Information’ section describes how that item will ship. All perennials and fall-planted bulbs are packaged to withstand shipping and are fully-guaranteed. Please open upon receipt and follow the instructions included.

Perennials and fall-planted bulbs are shipped at the proper planting time for your Growing Zone. Perennial and fall-planted bulb orders will arrive separately from seeds. If your order requires more than one shipment and all items are shipping to the same address, there is no additional shipping charge. See our shipping information page for approximate ship dates and more detailed information. If you have any questions, please call Customer Service at (802) 227-7200 or contact us by email or chat.

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Key Features

Light Requirements

  • Full Sun
  • Half Sun / Half Shade

Bloom Time

Late summer to fall

Advantages

  • Attracts Hummingbirds
  • Attracts Birds
  • Long Bloom Time
  • Privacy
  • Fragrant
  • Deer Resistant
  • Rabbit Resistant

Additional information

Mature Height

20-30 ft tall

Mature Spread

4-6 ft wide

Soil Type

  • Loamy Soil
  • Clay Soil
  • Well-Drained Soil

Soil Moisture

  • Average
  • Moist / Wet

Planting Depth

The base of the stem(s) should be just at the soil surface after watering in

Planting Time

  • Spring / Summer

Flower Size

Up to 2" flowers

Plant Classification

Introduced Cultivar

Growing Zones

  • Zone 5
  • Zone 6
  • Zone 7
  • Zone 8
  • Zone 9

Poisonous or Toxic to Animals

Poisonous if ingested. Skin and eye irritant. Toxic to dogs, cats and horses.
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Overall rating: 4.4 / 5 from 10 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

Summary topics

Review topics: ["results","growing","plants","blooms","aroma","trellis","flowers","clematis"].

Review highlights

Reviews

Absolutely Stunning Display of Flowers

"Love love love this clematis!!! Absolutely stunning display of flowers and a vigorous grower! This sweet autumn clematis comes back year after year. It is easily manipulated to grow where you want it to - we weaved ours in and out of our trellis, weaving it every few days because it is such a fast grower, so that it would fully cover the trellis adjacent to our patio. We could not be more pleased with the results. Abundant flowers with a subtle yet sweet aroma that bloom and remain for weeks in September. Rich and attractive green growth prior to flowering. We planted these sweet autumn clematis to cover two horizontal trellises adjacent to our patio - the space is now absolutely enchanting. We received two plants and that was all it took to cover the two horizontal lattices. Clematis roots are planted in the shade under the deck and behind the trellis, and the vines are in full sun much of the day. The pictures shown are year two's display of flowers. We love these blooms so much we just purchased two more plants for the trellis on the other side of our deck."

— K (5/5)

It is growing and seems to be doing fine.

"On a trellis in front of the house"

— DeeDone (4/5)

One perfect, one not.

"I love this clematis. It is a prolific bloomer, and is covered in small white flowers around September. I have mixed feelings,about my order. I ordered two to climb a fence and trellis. Both were small to begin with, but one took off and grew just as I expected it to. The other just didnt do well. Both planted on a fence, same soil, same conditions. A year later, the one plant is healthy and vigorous. The other died. My husband and I are master gardeners and did everything right, so we are very disappointed that one of our two plants did not thrive."

— Gardening D. (3/5)

Love this vine for a privacy trellis on the side of my house

"All were growing beautifully, blooming, the two turned brown and died. Weren't planted next to each other, but were all on the same trellis. Planted in May, two vines died in late August while in full bloom."

— Momof7 (4/5)

Grew well for first season!

"I planted this on the east side to train it up and around the dining room windows. It has grown 6 feet, but took awhile to get started."

— Scotty (4/5)

First year - no blooms

"The first year so it's getting established. I'm in zone 3/4 so little things have a reduced window. I'm looking forward to next year."

— Cam (4/5)

Sweet Autumn Clematis

"We bought Sweet Autumn several years ago from American Meadows and it is still thriving! Every year we have a beautiful entrance to our patio area and love to sit there and bask in the wonderful fragrance! You won't go wrong with this plant!"

— Sue B. (5/5)

Disappointing results.

"Wanted to shade camellia leaves which always suffer in our extreme summer heat. Description says :roots in shade, leaves in full sun", so I planted BEHIND bushes. Guess I have to plant in FRONT for full sun, with lots of mulch for root shade."

— Anonymous (5/5)

Just what I wanted!!

"I built an Arbor over an entrance gate and wanted something fast growing and beautiful, and thats what I got!! Can't wait for 2nd year growth this year!!"

— Kel B. (5/5)

Outstanding!

"I use this plant as a climber against my patio deck. I not only gives me privacy, but the aroma is wonderful."

— Jefho (5/5)

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