Apple Blossom Evergreen Clematis

• Variety: Apple Blossom, pruning group 1 – evergreen, scented, and flowering before anything else has started
• Latin name: Clematis armandii 'Apple Blossom'
• Flower: Pink buds opening to pinkish-white
• Scent: Strongly scented
• Evergreen: Yes, glossy dark leaves held year-round
• Climbing method: Leaf-stalk tendril climber
• Height: To 8m
• Flowering: March–April
• Pruning group: 1 – tidy lightly after flowering if needed. No hard pruning
• Planting depth: Plant at pot level – do not plant deep (the crown rots if buried)
• Hardiness: H4–H5; needs a sheltered wall in colder areas
• RHS AGM: Yes (confirmed December 2024)
• Sold as: P9 and 3L deep pots, grown from cuttings by us. Peat-free compost
• Plant outdoors: Year-round
• Delivered: March–November typically. Collection from Castle Cary also available

Clematis Apple Blossom – Evergreen with Scented Flowers in March

Apple Blossom is an evergreen clematis that flowers in March, weeks before most clematis have produced a single leaf. Deep pink buds open to pinkish-white flowers that, as they age, soften to pure white. These are held above glossy dark foliage (with a bronze tinge on the new growth). The flowers are pretty, but the scent is the real event. Clematis armandii is the most fragrant of all clematis species, and on a warm spring afternoon the perfume wafts across your garden and, if your windows are open, into the house. Apple Blossom deservedly holds an RHS AGM and is the variety most people choose for its combination of flower colour and perfume.

This is a big plant. Given a sheltered wall and reasonable soil it will reach 8m, and it does not do this politely. The stems are stiff and woody rather than soft and twining, so you need a strong structure and the patience to tie in new growth while it is still flexible enough to cooperate. A south-facing or west-facing wall is ideal; east walls are acceptable if sheltered from cold morning winds. A great friend has an old Clematis armandii growing on the wall outside his kitchen window, which faces east, with a little bit of south in it. On a sunny day in early March, he has the sweetest-smelling kitchen I've ever visited. Don't try it on a north-facing wall; it will disappoint you. The reward for finding the right spot is a wall of evergreen foliage that looks good through the year. And heady perfume at a time of year when you just don't expect it.

Not Like Other Clematis

Most clematis are deciduous, stop at 3m tall, and tolerate hard pruning. Apple Blossom isn't, doesn't and won't. It is evergreen, reaches 8m, and resents being cut back hard. The planting rules are different too: where the majority of clematis should be planted 8–10cm deep, armandii types are happiest with the soil at pot level because the crown can rot if buried. If you are used to the large-flowered hybrids (the Nelly Mosers and Presidents of the clematis world) this plant will ask you to forget most of what you know. It flowers on wood made the previous year, so the only pruning it needs is a light tidy after flowering finishes in April. Otherwise, just leave it alone.

Planting Partners for an Evergreen Wall

As Apple Blossom flowers in March and April, the obvious strategy is to plant something that takes over for summer. A vigorous Group 3 clematis like Ernest Markham works well: its magenta-red flowers run from June to October on new growth that weaves through your armandii's evergreen framework. If you're going "Clematis mad" then for winter interest on the same structure, consider Freckles, a cirrhosa clematis whose speckled bells appear from November to February, filling a gap before Apple Blossom takes over in spring. If scent is the priority, pair it with star jasmine on an adjacent wall for fragrance from March right through to August. Plant spring bulbs (narcissi, tulips) at the base for colour at ground level while the clematis flowers overhead.

From Our Nursery to Your Garden

We generally propagate Apple Blossom from cuttings ourselves, but it is a difficult clematis to propagate so sometimes we buy in rooted cuttings and raise those. Either way, our climbers are grown in peat-free compost with biological pest controls. The staff who do this also pick and pack your order, which means they know what a healthy armandii looks like at every stage of growth. Maybe that is why we are a Which? Gardening Best Buy and Feefo Platinum Partner. Browse the full clematis range.

Frequently Asked Questions

How deep should I plant Apple Blossom clematis?

At pot level which is the opposite of the advice for most clematis. Armandii varieties have a crown that rots if buried in damp soil. Set the top of the root ball level with the surrounding ground and firm in gently. For the full lowdown on planting method see our clematis growing guide.

Is Clematis armandii Apple Blossom evergreen?

Yes, all members of the armandii family are fully evergreen even in the hardest winters in the UK. The glossy dark green leaves are held all year, with bronze-tinted new growth in spring. In a severe winter a few older leaves may go brown and drop, but the plant replaces them quickly once temperatures rise. This makes it one of the few clematis that earns its wall space all year round.

Will Apple Blossom clematis survive a cold winter?

It is hardy in most of England, Wales, and sheltered parts of Scotland. In our experience it hates cold winds (as opposed to cold weather). In exposed gardens or frost pockets, the flower buds can be damaged by late frost even if the plant itself survives. A south- or west-facing wall is safest; avoid open, unsheltered positions.

When should I prune Apple Blossom clematis?

After flowering finishes in April or May, and only if it needs it. Apple Blossom flowers on stems grown the previous year; removing those takes away next spring's flowers. If the plant has outgrown its space, reduce the longest shoots after flowering. Do not cut into old bare wood unless you are prepared to wait a year or more for it to recover.

How big does Clematis armandii Apple Blossom get?

Up to 8m in height with a spread of 4–5m on a sheltered wall. It is one of the largest clematis you can grow in the UK. Allow plenty of space and provide a strong support structure; the stems become woody and heavy with age. This is not a plant for a small obelisk or a lightweight trellis panel.

Can I collect my Apple Blossom clematis from the nursery?

Yes. We are based in Castle Cary, Somerset, and you are welcome to collect your order in person. See our collection page for directions, opening times, and how to arrange collection.