Clematis ‘H.F. Young’

H. F. Young clematis is a deciduous climber that grows 8 to 10 feet and produces single, bluish flowers 6 to 8 inches across with a greenish white bar on the reverse side.  A member of clematis pruning group 2, H. F. Young blooms in late spring to early summer and then again in early autumn. It does not require major pruning, just the removal of all dead and weak stems in late spring. It prefers sun or partial shade and can be grown on a pergola, arbor, large trellis, or obelisk.

Group 2 Pruning:

Prune in late winter or early spring (February) as follows:

• Remove dead or weak stems before growth begins. Check individual stems from the top down until you reach a pair of healthy buds, and prune just above them, removing the spindly or damaged growth above
• Avoid heavy pruning or flowers will be lost

Then prune again after the first flush of flowers:

• To encourage a second flush of flowers later in the season prune back some stems by cutting to large buds or a strong side shoot immediately below the blooms
• Top-heavy or overgrown plants can be gradually reduced over two to three seasons by pruning back harder after the first flush of flowers. They are unlikely to produce a second flush of flowers, but should flower again the following year, in late spring or early summer