Jackmanii is probably the most popular of all the Clematis -not as fancy as some varieties, but who doesn't love the big deep purple blooms! It's a teriffic variety - it's one that doesn't disappoint.

We kind of plant them in any exposure here where summer heat might be 80 degrees, but an Eastern exposure is always the ideal. I do know they like their roots cool/shaded, but that can be accomplished by planting a low shrub, etc. in front of it - perhaps some mulch if you're a mulcher. They do like water, and a moist (not sopping) soil especially at mid summer. Someone might know different, but once established rain fall might be sufficient or should be, at least, included with other garden waterings.

Once yours gets established...Jackmanii is a "Group 3" mid summer to mid fall flowering type. They bloom on the current season's growth. Therefore, they should be cut back in late winter or very early spring. Start by removing any weaskened or dead stems. On the remaining stems, look for large swollen buds starting from the ground up. You can lop off any stems above the last of the buds. If you can't identify the buds, simply cut back each stem to about 2 feet above the soil line.

Hi Happy! Your clem should do great in your zone. I find they grow well in the same soil as roses - amended with compost and manure. I have several growing up my climbing roses so they get a dose of alfalfa meal every spring and fall along with the roses and they seem to love it. I also give them a dose of organic bone meal in the spring.

Duluth covered the pruning but if you need more help pop into the Clematis forum. Lots of good advice over there.

Diana

I have two Jackmanii. One I cut 6" above the ground because I want bloom from the bottom to the top. The other, which grows on a tall arbor, I prune about 8 ft from the bottom, because I only want blooms on the top. Both are planted in full sun, but I underplant with shallow rooted annuals. Clematis love being watered deeply, but don't like standing water, and fertilized every 3-4 weeks during the growing season. A new Clematis benefits by being cut back 3-6 inches from the ground, because this will promote more basal growth.

While my clematis are getting established I like to set a large rock at the base to shade the roots until other plants get big enough to shade them. Happy gardening!!

I've found the people over on the clematis forum very helpful. One of the tips they gave me when I was starting some tiny clematis plants last year was to plant them very, very deep - like you would tomatoes! You bury most of the plant. It sure seems to have worked. The plants appear to be extremely strong and one has had buds since it was only a few inches out of the ground this spring!