How to propagate clematis yourself

Propagating clematis yourself is not difficult

Depending on the species, these three options are available: 

Propagation by layering

This is a vegetative method of propagation, which means that the new clematis plants are identical to the mother plant in their characteristics. 
A somewhat older, well-established clematis is encouraged to form new roots by pegging down leaf axils into the soil. 

There are several variations for propagating by layering, that is, for pegging down shoots. The simplest and most promising is to lay a long, healthy shoot of the clematis to be propagated flat on the ground and cover it with soil at several leaf axils. Once that is done, the layered clematis shoot is cut off before and after the leaf axil that has formed roots, and you obtain one (or several) new plants.

Another method uses a pot of seed compost that is buried next to the mother plant. A healthy shoot is then bent upwards by 90 degrees at a leaf axil, inserted in the middle of the pot and fixed (for example with a sturdy wire or a tent peg) until it has rooted. It is important that the shoot is only bent and not kinked. The drawback of this way of propagating clematis is that it takes quite a long time and you only get a single new plant.

There are also creative methods in which a longer shoot is guided through pipes (which are then filled with soil) or cut-off plastic reusable bottles and begins to grow new roots inside them. 

With all methods of clematis propagation by layering, it is important to keep the soil constantly moist after layering. Lightly scoring the shoot at the points that will come into contact with the soil and form roots can help. 

This type of propagation should bring good results with most clematis hybrids and also with small-flowered varieties such as the Italian clematis or Texas clematis.

Propagating by cuttings

Like most plants, clematis can be propagated from cuttings, which then root with varying success depending on the variety. This type of propagation is also vegetative and therefore preserves the characteristics of the mother plant.

The best time to take cuttings is during or shortly before the clematis flowering period. The cuttings should consist of two leaf axils and, depending on the variety, be about 5-10cm long. The rest of the procedure is not fundamentally different for clematis than for other plants.

Propagation by cuttings works with most clematis species and is, for example, the preferred method for Cl. Tubulosa (Hercleifolia).

Sowing seeds 

Especially with wild species, where propagation by cuttings and layering of shoots only rarely succeeds, propagation by seed is often the most viable way to propagate them. As this is by far the most laborious method and also plays a role in breeding new clematis varieties, we are preparing a separate article on it.