WateringTimesWatering plan, $19
Clematis armandii, WUCOLS IV

How often to water evergreen clematis in California

In July in the Central Valley, established evergreen clematis in loam needs a deep watering about every 8 days: about 2.2 gallons each time for a plant 2 feet across, about 1.9 gallons a week. Evergreen clematis is a vigorous vine from China that climbs 15 feet or more by tendrils, densely covered in long, glossy, dark green leaflets that open bronze. In late winter to early spring, clusters of fragrant white flowers about 2 inches wide open on the previous year's growth. It is hardy to about 10 degrees F and may be poisonous.

VineRated for 6 of 6 zones

How often to water evergreen clematis, month by month

Your city
Plant width
2 ft
Your soil

Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.

Every month, on your water days. The personal plan prints this for evergreen clematis and the rest of your yard, on the days your water supplier allows.Get the plan for $19

How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1.5 feet of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area the plant covers, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.

Which soil do you have?

Dig down a few inches, take a handful of moist soil and squeeze it.

  • Sandy: gritty, falls apart when you open your hand, will not form a ball.
  • Loam: forms a soft ball that crumbles when you poke it.
  • Clay: forms a firm, sticky ball and squeezes out into a ribbon between thumb and finger.

Still not sure? Pick loam. Most garden beds sit between sand and clay.

How to measure plant width

A shrub with its width marked from one side to the other and the circle under it shaded blue

Measure across the plant, from the tips of the leaves on one side to the tips on the other.

Water the whole area the plant covers, shown in blue. The gallons here cover that area.

A wider plant means more gallons each watering, not more waterings. While it is young, measure again each spring.

How to tell it needs water

  • When the soil at the foot of the vine feels dry three inches down in summer, evergreen clematis is ready for water
  • Leaves drooping by afternoon point to a dry root zone, especially inland
  • Browned leaf tips and edges can come from poor water quality, not just dryness
  • Bare, dead foliage inside the vine is old growth, best cleared after bloom

How to water it

  • Water deeply at the base, then let the top couple of inches dry
  • Plant in sun or light shade near the coast and in shade inland
  • Give it a strong fence, arbor or trellis
  • Prune right after flowering to clear dead foliage and control size
  • Mulch the root zone to keep it cool

Through the seasons

Water a new vine regularly through its first summer. Established vines want moderate water, more in hot inland gardens, where shade is a must. Flowers open in late winter to early spring, then several growth flushes follow, so it rebounds quickly after pruning. WUCOLS rates evergreen clematis moderate water on the north-central coast and in the Central Valley. The south coast, South Inland, the high desert and the low desert carry the same moderate water rating.

In pots

Evergreen clematis can grow in a large container with a sturdy trellis, giving a screen of glossy leaves. Use a well-drained mix with compost. Water when the top couple of inches dry, until it drains through. In summer, check every day or two and shade the pot inland. Empty the saucer. Prune after spring bloom. In winter, water when the mix dries and rain falls short.

1 Your climate zone six WUCOLS zones, each from its own reference city
2.67gal per sq ft in JulyModerate water use in the Central Valley zone
A year
17.11 gal per sq ft
Reference
Sacramento climate table
Counts
Plant need, before sprinkler losses
0.761.52.33.00.4JAN0.65FEB1.09MAR1.52APR2.08MAY2.48JUN2.67JUL2.39AUG1.8SEP1.18OCT0.56NOV0.34DEC0.761.52.33.00.4JFM1.52AMJ2.67JAS1.18OND
Gallons per square foot per month, Central Valley. Peak 2.67 in Jul, 17.11 a year.

Monthly water need by climate zone

Evergreen Clematis: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone

MonthN. CoastC. ValleyS. CoastS. InlandHi DesertLo Desert
Jan0.370.40.780.780.740.78
Feb0.530.650.810.870.930.93
Mar0.871.091.151.31.461.52
Apr1.181.521.41.611.891.95
May1.462.081.611.952.392.45
Jun1.612.481.742.292.852.79
Jul1.612.671.982.513.042.85
Aug1.492.391.862.332.792.6
Sep1.241.81.491.862.142.08
Oct0.871.181.151.331.461.49
Nov0.470.560.840.90.930.96
Dec0.310.340.650.680.650.68
Year1217.1115.518.4121.2721.08

How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.

Plants with the same water needs 16

Rated moderate water in the Central Valley, like evergreen clematis. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.

JasmineJasminum polyanthummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyStar JasmineTrachelospermum jasminoides and cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyHoneysuckleLonicera japonicamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyIvyHedera helixmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyGrapevinesVitis vinifera ssp. & cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyClematisClematis & ssp., hybrids & cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyWinter CreeperEuonymus fortunei radicansmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyArabian JasmineJasminum sambacmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyHyacinth BeanLablab purpureus (Dolichos lablab)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyTrumpet HoneysuckleLonicera sempervirensmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyPink Trumpet VinePodranea ricasolianamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyPotato VineSolanum laxum (jasminoides)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyItalian ClematisClematis viticellamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyHopsHumulus lupulusmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyBoston IvyParthenocissus tricuspidatamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyVirginia CreeperParthenocissus quinquefolia ssp. & cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July

Similar plants that need less water 9

Rated lower than evergreen clematis in the Central Valley. Worth a look for a new bed or a lawn replacement.

BougainvilleaBougainvillea & spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyWisteriaWisteria spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyFlowering WoodbineLonicera periclymenumlow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyFleeceflowerFallopia baldschuanica (Polygonum aubertii)low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyCarolina JessamineGelsemium sempervirenslow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyCecile Brunner RoseRosa 'Cecile Brunner'low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyLady Banks RoseRosa banksiaelow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyRoger's Red GrapeVitis 'Roger's Red'low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyBlue Dawn Morning GloryIpomoea acuminatalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Minutes for your sprinklers

Turn this into minutes on your water days

Every city page has a calculator that takes evergreen clematis, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.

Questions people ask

How often should I water evergreen clematis in summer?

In July, established evergreen clematis in loam needs a deep watering about every 8 days in the Central Valley, about every 11 days on the south coast and about every 9 days in the South Inland zone. Sandy soil holds less water, so waterings come closer together. Clay stretches them. Check the soil before each watering and skip one after a soaking rain.

How much water does evergreen clematis need per day?

In July in the Central Valley, established evergreen clematis needs about 0.3 gallons a day for a plant 2 feet across and about 1.1 gallons a day for a plant 4 feet across. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.

Does watering for evergreen clematis change across California?

Yes. WUCOLS rates evergreen clematis separately for each of the six California climate zones: moderate water in the North-Central Coastal zone, moderate water in the Central Valley zone, moderate water in the South Coastal zone, moderate water in the South Inland zone, moderate water in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, moderate water in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.

When should I prune evergreen clematis?

Prune right after it flowers to clear dead foliage and control growth. It blooms on the previous year's growth. It regrows quickly.

Does evergreen clematis need shade?

Shade is a must in hot inland gardens. On the coast it tolerates deep shade but blooms best in bright light or full sun. Water more in sun.

Why are my evergreen clematis leaves browning?

It is susceptible to leaf burn when water quality is poor. Dry soil also browns leaves. Check both before changing your routine.

Is evergreen clematis fragrant?

Yes, clusters of white flowers are fragrant in late winter and early spring. Plant it near a path. Deer tend to leave it alone.

How cold hardy is evergreen clematis?

It is hardy to around 10 degrees F. New leaves open bronze, then turn glossy dark green. It keeps its leaves all year.

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Sources