Star-Shaped Mauve-Blue Blooms with a Glowing Carmine Bar

Barbara Jackman Clematis (Clematis 'Barbara Jackman') climbs a trellis or arbor and covers itself in large, 6-inch flowers — mauve-blue sepals lit by a vivid carmine center bar and creamy stamens. It blooms heavily in late spring and again in late summer, and it's reliably zone 4 hardy with the classic clematis trick: top in the sun, roots in the shade. Whether you're dressing an entry arbor in Edina, softening a fence in Maple Grove, or climbing a mailbox post in Woodbury — Barbara Jackman brings vertical color to zone 4b–5a yards.

Barbara Jackman Clematis Plant Details

Barbara Jackman Clematis Uses in Minnesota Landscapes

Arbors, trellises, and fences

Give it a trellis, obelisk, or lattice fence to climb — clematis grips with twining leaf stems, so it needs thin supports to wrap around. Stunning on an entry arbor or framing a doorway in Plymouth.

Vertical color in tight spaces

With a narrow footprint, it adds height and bloom where there's no room for a shrub — perfect for a mailbox post, lamppost, or the corner of a deck in Eden Prairie.

Cut flowers and pollinators

The big star-shaped blooms are showy in arrangements, and bees work the flowers through both bloom flushes.

Best Time to Plant Barbara Jackman Clematis in Minnesota

Spring (late April–May) and early fall (late August–September) are both excellent. Spring planting gives a full season to establish; fall planting takes advantage of warm soil and cool air. Avoid planting in summer heat, and never plant after mid-October — frost-heaving kills new roots.

How to Plant Barbara Jackman Clematis

1. Choose a spot where the top gets sun but the root zone stays cool and shaded — the classic "head in the sun, feet in the shade."
2. Dig a hole 2–3× the root ball width. Unusually for most plants, set clematis 2–3 inches deeper than it grew in the pot — this buries dormant buds and guards against clematis wilt.
3. Backfill with native soil mixed with 20–30% compost; firm gently and water in well.
4. Install the trellis or support at planting time, and gently tie young stems to start them climbing.
5. Mulch 2–3 inches over the root zone (or shade the base with a low perennial) to keep roots cool; keep mulch off the stems.

Watering Barbara Jackman Clematis in Minnesota

First Year Watering Schedule

• Weeks 1–2: Every 2–3 days, deep and slow
• Month 1–2: Every 3–4 days
• Month 3–6: Weekly; keep evenly moist but never waterlogged
• Stop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities).

After Year One

Water deeply during dry spells, especially in summer heat. Clematis has deep roots and prefers steady moisture with good drainage.

When and how do I prune Barbara Jackman?

It's a Group 2 clematis: in early spring, remove only dead or weak stems and lightly trim to a pair of strong buds. Hard pruning would sacrifice the big early-season flowers, which form on last year's wood.

Why plant it deeper than the pot?

Burying the crown 2–3 inches deep encourages new shoots from below ground — your insurance against clematis wilt, which can collapse top growth overnight.

Will it survive a Minnesota winter?

Yes — it's hardy to zone 4. Mulch the crown the first winter or two; established plants need no protection.

You May Also Like

• The President Clematis — rich purple-blue, another reliable Group 2 climber
• Henryi Clematis — large pure-white flowers for the same trellis treatment
• Climbing Hydrangea — a shade-tolerant vine for north walls