{"product_id":"the-president-clematis","title":"The President Clematis","description":"\u003ch1\u003eLarge, Rich Purple-Blue Blooms on a Reliable Classic\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe President Clematis (\u003cem\u003eClematis\u003c\/em\u003e 'The President') is a Victorian-era favorite that has stayed popular for good reason — big, deep purple-blue flowers with pointed sepals, silvery undersides, and reddish stamens, blooming heavily in early summer and again in late summer. Vigorous and dependable, it climbs trellises and arbors on a zone 4-hardy vine that wants its top in the sun and roots in cool shade. Whether you're dressing an arbor in Edina, climbing a fence in Maple Grove, or framing a doorway in Woodbury — The President brings deep, regal color to zone 4b–5a yards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe President 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 'The President'\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 rich purple-blue flowers; early summer and again late 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\u003eThe President Clematis Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eArbors, trellises, and fences\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVigorous and well-behaved, it's a dependable choice for an arbor or fence in Plymouth. Give it thin supports its leaf stems can twine around.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eColor pairings\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts deep purple-blue is a perfect foil for white, pink, or red clematis on a shared structure in Eden Prairie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCut flowers and pollinators\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe large blooms are excellent cut, and bees visit both flushes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant The President 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 The President 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 The President 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 The President?\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\u003eIs it a good choice for beginners?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — it's one of the most forgiving large-flowered clematis, blooming reliably with minimal fuss once sited correctly.\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\u003eGeneral Sikorski Clematis — large mid-blue flowers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHenryi Clematis — large pure-white for contrast\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJackmanii Clematis — classic velvety purple, Group 3\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#1\/7\" Pot","offer_id":54304785465649,"sku":null,"price":30.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/the-president-clematis.jpg?v=1779557842","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/the-president-clematis","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}