{"product_id":"general-sikorski-clematis","title":"General Sikorski Clematis","description":"\u003ch1\u003eLarge, Rounded Mid-Blue Blooms with Golden Centers\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGeneral Sikorski Clematis (\u003cem\u003eClematis\u003c\/em\u003e 'General Sikorski') is one of the most dependable blue clematis, opening big, broadly overlapping mid-blue flowers lit by golden-yellow stamens. It blooms heavily in early summer and reblooms later, climbing trellises and arbors on a vigorous zone 4-hardy vine that wants its top in the sun and roots in cool shade. Whether you're dressing an arbor in Edina, softening a fence in Maple Grove, or climbing a pergola in Woodbury — General Sikorski brings classic blue to zone 4b–5a yards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGeneral Sikorski Clematis Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mce-item-table\"\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eClematis\u003c\/em\u003e 'General Sikorski'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Type\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous flowering climbing vine\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Height\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8–12 feet (with support)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Spread\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–4 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSun\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun to part shade (6+ hours for best bloom); keep the roots cool and shaded\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate — consistent moisture in well-draining soil\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4–9 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRich, well-draining; amend Minnesota clay-loam with compost\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning Group\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGroup 2 — light prune in early spring; blooms on old and new wood\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBloom\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLarge rounded mid-blue flowers with golden stamens; early summer and again later\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to zone 4; mulch the crown the first winter\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGeneral Sikorski Clematis Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eArbors, pergolas, and fences\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVigorous and tall, it covers a structure well in Plymouth. Give it thin supports its leaf stems can twine around.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eColor-pairing on shared supports\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts true blue is a perfect partner for red or white clematis on the same arbor in Eden Prairie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCut flowers and pollinators\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe big rounded blooms are excellent in arrangements, and bees visit both flushes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant General Sikorski Clematis in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpring (late April–May) and early fall (late August–September) are both excellent. Avoid summer heat, and never plant after mid-October — frost-heaving kills new roots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant General Sikorski Clematis\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSite it so the top gets sun but the roots stay cool and shaded — \"head in the sun, feet in the shade.\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig 2–3× the root ball width and set the plant 2–3 inches \u003cem\u003edeeper\u003c\/em\u003e than it grew in the pot to guard against clematis wilt.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with native soil plus 20–30% compost; firm gently and water in well.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInstall the support at planting and tie young stems to start them climbing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch 2–3 inches over the root zone or shade the base with a low perennial; keep mulch off the stems.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering General Sikorski Clematis in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeeks 1–2: Every 2–3 days, deep and slow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 1–2: Every 3–4 days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 3–6: Weekly; keep evenly moist but never waterlogged\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWater deeply during dry spells, especially in summer heat. Deep roots and steady moisture keep it blooming.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I prune General Sikorski?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's a Group 2 clematis: in early spring, remove only dead or weak stems and trim lightly to strong buds. Hard pruning removes the big early flowers on old wood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIt bloomed great the first flush but little after — why?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe heaviest flush is on old wood; the rebloom on new wood is lighter. Steady summer moisture and a balanced feed encourage the second round.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — hardy to zone 4. Mulch the crown the first winter or two; established plants need no protection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe President Clematis — deeper purple-blue, Group 2\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHenryi Clematis — large pure-white flowers for contrast\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCardinal Wyszynski Clematis — glowing crimson, Group 3\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#1\/7\" Pot","offer_id":54304783302961,"sku":null,"price":27.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/general-sikorski-clematis.jpg?v=1779557842","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/general-sikorski-clematis","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}