{"product_id":"proteus-clematis","title":"Proteus Clematis","description":"\u003ch1\u003eLush Double Mauve-Pink Rosettes on a Heritage Climber\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProteus Clematis (\u003cem\u003eClematis\u003c\/em\u003e 'Proteus') is an old favorite grown for its big, fully double mauve-pink flowers — layered rosettes packed with sepals in the first flush, followed by simpler single blooms later in summer. It climbs trellises and arbors on a zone 4-hardy vine and, like all clematis, wants its top in the sun and roots in cool shade. Whether you're dressing a trellis in Edina, climbing an arbor in Maple Grove, or adding romance to a Woodbury border — Proteus brings full, frilly pink to zone 4b–5a yards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eProteus 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 'Proteus'\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\u003e6–10 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 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; double flowers form on old wood\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBloom\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDouble mauve-pink flowers early, single later; late spring into summer\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\u003eProteus Clematis Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTrellises and arbors\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe big double rosettes deserve a spot where you can see them up close — a doorway trellis or arbor in Plymouth. Give it thin supports to twine around.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eRomantic and cottage gardens\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts frilly, old-fashioned blooms suit a cottage-style planting in Eden Prairie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCut flowers\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe double flowers are long-lasting and luxurious in arrangements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Proteus 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 Proteus 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 Proteus 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. Steady moisture with good drainage keeps it healthy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy are later flowers single, not double?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe double rosettes form only on old wood in the first flush. The summer rebloom on new wood is single — normal for double clematis.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I prune Proteus?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a Group 2 clematis, prune lightly in early spring — remove only dead or weak stems. Hard pruning sacrifices the double blooms.\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\u003eBlue Light Clematis — fully double powder-blue blooms\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDuchess of Edinburgh Clematis — double pure-white\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePink Champagne Clematis — vivid single deep-pink\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#1\/7\" Pot","offer_id":54304784843057,"sku":null,"price":30.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/proteus-clematis.jpg?v=1779557840","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/proteus-clematis","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}