Clematis ‘New Love’ offers a distinctive choice for gardeners seeking a vibrant, low-maintenance perennial. This plant stands out for its unique growth habit and extended bloom time, bringing continuous color and appeal to various garden settings. Its adaptability makes it a favored option for those desiring consistent beauty with less effort.
Unique Characteristics of Clematis ‘New Love’
Clematis ‘New Love’ is unique for its herbaceous, non-vining, and upright growth habit. Unlike traditional climbing clematis, this variety forms a bushy, self-supporting sub-shrub, reaching 2 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide, eliminating the need for trellises or other supports. It produces abundant clusters of bell-shaped, blue-purple flowers with petals that may reflex or curl back. These fragrant blooms appear profusely on new wood from late spring or mid-summer through early fall. ‘New Love’ is hardy in USDA Zones 3 to 9, making it suitable for a wide range of climates.
Planting and Cultivation
Site Selection and Soil Preparation
Selecting the right location is important for Clematis ‘New Love’. This plant performs best in areas receiving full sun to partial shade, with at least four hours of direct sunlight daily. A common recommendation for clematis is to keep their “heads in the sun and feet in the shade,” ensuring the roots remain cool and shaded.
Clematis ‘New Love’ prefers moist, fertile, and well-drained soil rich in organic matter. It prefers a neutral to slightly alkaline pH, ranging from 6.5 to 7.5. To prepare the planting site, dig a hole approximately twice the width of the root ball and just as deep, incorporating well-rotted manure or garden compost. When planting, position the top of the rootball about 3 inches below the soil level to encourage new shoots from the base, or plant with the crown at soil level.
Watering and Fertilizing
Consistent moisture is important for Clematis ‘New Love’, particularly during establishment, dry periods, and peak blooming. Check the soil 2 to 3 inches deep; water if it feels dry. Watering once or twice weekly is often a good guideline. Avoid both overwatering, which can lead to root rot, and underwatering, which causes wilting leaves.
While Clematis ‘New Love’ is not a heavy feeder, a balanced, slow-release fertilizer or one high in potassium supports vigorous growth and abundant flowering. Apply fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Mulching the base of the plant in late winter with well-rotted manure or compost helps conserve soil moisture, provides nutrients, and keeps the roots cool.
Pruning for Optimal Growth
Clematis ‘New Love’ belongs to pruning Group 3, which simplifies its annual care. This group consists of clematis varieties that flower on new wood produced in the current growing season. The most effective time to prune ‘New Love’ is in late winter or early spring, before active growth begins.
The pruning method for Group 3 clematis is “hard pruning.” This involves cutting back all of the previous year’s stems to 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) above ground, or to a strong pair of buds. This pruning encourages robust new growth from the base, leading to a profusion of flowers later in the season. Neglecting to prune can result in a tangled mass of stems with fewer blooms, particularly at the base.
Addressing Common Challenges
Even with proper care, gardeners may encounter common challenges when growing Clematis ‘New Love’. Pests like aphids, snails, and earwigs may affect the foliage or flowers. Aphids are often dislodged with a strong spray of water, while hand-picking manages snails and slugs. Environmental stressors, such as yellowing leaves, often indicate nutrient deficiencies like nitrogen, iron, or magnesium, or imbalances in watering. Ensuring proper soil drainage and consistent moisture, along with applying a balanced fertilizer, helps alleviate these issues.
While clematis wilt is a concern for some clematis varieties, it is less common for ‘New Love’. However, general fungal issues or environmental stresses may occur. Lack of blooms, if not related to improper pruning, may suggest insufficient sunlight or nutrient imbalances. Maintaining optimal growing conditions, including adequate sunlight, well-draining soil, and appropriate feeding, helps the plant resist problems.