I recognized it immediately when we first looked at this house. It was hanging over a rickety fence that would need to be replaced, but my heart lifted when I saw it – sweet autumn clematis. I had planted it in my Minnesota garden in the hopes it would grow up around the porch, adding some charm to our beige suburban house. After a few seasons of nurturing, it finally grew along the porch, just as I had hoped. And then we moved. This sweet autumn clematis on the fence felt like a little gift to me. Maybe even a providential indication that this was the house for us.
What I didn’t know about sweet autumn clematis is that the cold Minnesota winters keep it in check, but it thrives in Maryland and is considered invasive. I have my hands full fighting invasive weeds in this yard, but the sweet autumn clematis is one I’m not worried about. I don’t mind the extra effort it takes to keep it from spreading all over the yard, eating bushes in its path. When it puts on a show in early September, it’s all worth it.
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As you can see, it’s completely taken over the fence, the garden obelisk I built last year, and is creeping up my neighbor’s arborvitae hedge. I do cut and pull down vines when I’m working in the yard, but a few still got away.
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Despite the fact that it is, indeed, invasive, I love it. I look forward to it blooming all summer long, knowing it will gloriously announce the seasonal transition into fall.
The nice thing about sweet autumn clematis, though, is that it is fairly easy to cut back and control. It’s also not evergreen, like English ivy, so I can cut it way back and decide how much I want to let it take off next spring. I’ve decided to let it grow on the fence and trellis, and not on the obelisk. It’s crowding the limelight bush too much and steadily creeping onto the climbing hydrangeas on our neighbor’s fence.
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Also, once it’s done blooming, I’m going to cut it way back so there isn’t last season’s dead growth until the new growth, which adds bulk and doesn’t look very nice where it’s visible. You can especially see the brown vines at the bottom of the trellis, and it’ll look much nicer next year if that’s cut way back this fall. I learned last year that I can cut it to about a foot off the ground, and you won’t even notice.
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I have a few more weedy areas I need to work on, but we’re almost done with the big gardening projects in this yard, and I am excited about that! I feel like next spring and summer, I can focus on caring for what we have and working on the little details that make a garden look great – weeding, pruning, and fertilizing. I’ll also add some more plants in the front garden bed.
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I’ve learned a lot working in this yard over the last three years. Just a few years ago, I considered myself pretty hopeless when it came to having a nice garden. I felt overwhelmed by an entire yard of living things that needed patience, consistent nurturing, and a willingness to try and fail. But I’m slowly learning each season that it is satisfying work that is as much about soul care as it is about curb appeal. Being outside and getting dirt under my nails makes me feel grounded. I find a lot of hope in seeing things grow and even thrive.
I’m even learning to get past the frustrations and failures. They are all lessons God is teaching me through nature. Sometimes a plant just isn’t in the right spot, it needs something different, it’s not ready to bloom this year, it needs more time. Sometimes things can’t be forced. Sometimes you just have to be faithful in the small things to see significant results.
27 Responses
I know that you are aware of the invasiveness of your clematis, but I suggest that you look into replacing it with a native variety. Clematis virginiana, or Virgin’s Bower, has the same look without the negative ecological impact. While you may be able to keep the vines in check, the seed dispersal from all of those flowers will continue to propagate the plant and disrupt habitats. Thanks.
yep, I’ll look into that. I think I know, with this yard, that we will never get all of the invasive plants under control. We have so many things that you don’t want and they have been running rampant for years. I’m just trying to keep things in check.
Love Sweet Autumn Clematis, and have it growing on a fence in our “kitchen” garden. I, too, had always cut back all the dead plant after the first frost, but when I read that the spent plant might provide protection for birds in the winter months, I left it for the winter, then cut the dead plant back to the ground in early Spring. The plant popped right back again! Ours is now in full bloom, giving some Autumn joy as the days … finally! … turn a bit cooler!
This is EXACTLY what I do and it flourishes season after season. 🙂
Denise is right, I dug up an Autumn Clematis I had many years ago and somehow is is growing up a shrub and is on our neighbors roof!!! I’m finding it all over the yard and it has spread to our other neighbors yard. Your neighbors will be finding it in their yard whether they like it or not.
yeah, it was spreading long before I got here. I’ve been doing a good job keeping invasives in check on my side of the fence, but I’ve kept the clematis because I love it so much.
It’s so beautiful! Does it have a scent?
Yes, it has a lovely scent.
You are amazing! Your garden is beautiful and completely transformed by your patient learning, hard work, and creativity. I have loved watching the transformation. So inspiring and helpful to see what can be done by working step by step through the process. Every detail came together to create a beautiful landscape.
“but we’re almost done with the big gardening projects in this yard, and I am excited about that! …..LOLO to that!!! Gardening is always an ongoing project. Plants die, get leggy, too heavy for fences, or something is just not in the right place or trees tumble in storms…..it is never “done”. I myself love it all!!! The feeling that is great……is that it is more under control and by your design and wishes. It all looks great!!! Good work!!!
I do feel nearer to God in the garden!
Yes, I know there will always be projects, but we’re getting the large, wild, overgrown areas under control! 🙂
I feel your decision to keep the clematis. I love bittersweet. Years ago I had a bush on an acre of land. I loved it in the fall for wreath making and arrangements. When we moved I went to my local garden center to order a plant but I was told it’s considered invasive and they would no longer carry it. I tried many garden centers but to no avail. I miss it especially this time of year and artificial just doesn’t cut it.
Look for the native bittersweet, Celastrus scandens!
https://grownative.org/native_plants/american-bittersweet/
Dear MMS,
How serendipitous to discover a sweet Autumn clematis to replace the one you had lovingly nurtured. I’m sure you’ll find a way to tame it while continuing to enjoy it’s remarkable backdrop for your lovely pool area.
Diney from Mercer Island
Yikes. That certainly is a prolific growing vine. I suggest asking your neighbors how they feel about it possibly growing onto their property. It’s beautiful but those invasive plants are seldom a good thing in the end. Is there a different clematis that doesn’t invade as aggressively you could possibly choose? Have to say your outside of the house from before to after pictures sure are inspiring.
I cut it back to keep it off of their fence, but we are both battling a variety of invasive plants along that fence line. There is english ivy, bishop’s weed, and bittersweet nightshade to name a few. We mostly work together to keep it off of the climbing hydrangea, but it’s not a battle we’ll ever win.
I love Sweet Autumn. And the scent is wonderful, too. I think your plan to keep after it is what will be necessary until or unless you don’t care to do the maintenance it takes any longer. Your transformation of the yard of your home is remarkable, esp for a new gardener. Bravo!
If you want to save the world, your neighbours and yourself, cut the shrub back directly after it flowers and can’t spread its seeds. That is the reason it spreads so invasively, as birds spread the seeds with their own fertiliser attached in poo form. It is unbelievable that you have only lived there for three years; it looks like you have always been there.
Clematis is my bane!! Our neighbor grows it on their fence just like you do. Now that invasive weed is growing on all our bushes and is so hard to keep in line! Our garden club has compared it to the Bradford Pear tree. It smothers native growth!
I guess I don’t mind it as much as something like English Ivy because it’s seasonal. I’m sure it’s annoying when you don’t want it growing in your yard, though. I have to pull a lot of volunteers, but I don’t mind doing it since I love it so much.
my autumn clematis on a trellis. I have not seen any spread here in Michigan. Either fall or spring I cut it down to the bottom and it grows right back up just enough for the season.
Three houses ago we planted Sweet Autumn Clematis out my kitchen window and I loved it! Just when all the other flowers were fading it was coming into its glory. It was near an Aborvitae tree and the flowers against the evergreen along with nearby foliage fading into fall’s burgundy made my heart so happy. I can see why you keep it. Just keep it trimmed and enjoy!
Where I live in northern Michigan, sweet autumn clematis is not invasive. I love the fragrance when it is blooming. We have other troubling invasives like Autumn Olive. Your yard is beautiful!
It might ruin your new fence
All of your hard work is paying off, and you have a beautiful yard! it sounds like you have a solid plan in place, dare I say, ignore the nay sayers. 😀 We’re in NC, and I just planted cauliflower and potatoes from sprouts. I have no clue what I’m doing, which really takes off the pressure. If you really want to get grounded, walk barefoot in the grass. Instant energy/mood changer. For reals!
Your yard has progressed to a beautiful space. I don’t mind plants that grow a bit more then I’d like during the summer, especially when they can be cut back. Coming back fresh and new the following year.
I’m so happy to hear you’ve learned the joys of working in the ground and growing things. It’s what I love most.
Karen B.
I get the same feedback for having a mimosa tree. The difference is in my location. I am in the icebox of Missouri and it freezes back nearly every year. I love the fragrance as it blooms mid summer, so exotic! I do pull every little volunteer, but I find more mulberry and catalpa tree volunteers than anything.