Hello everyone. I was given 2 Clematis plants which I planted last year. I am not a very knowledgeable gardener and therefore started to read up on Clematis care.
I wonder if anyone can help me I.D my Clematis group? and if I should be pruning (not this year, in full bloom and flowers just opened 3 days ago).
I photographed the plant and that is a 2 Pence coin that I am holding for determining size.
Thankyou in advance.
Brian

Hi GardeningGandalf,

What a beautiful Clematis! I am not at all familiar with these beauties but I'll move your post over to the Clematis forum where some of our knowledgeable growers may be able to help with an identity and also offer advice on pruning.

I have a strong feeling that you are been given Raymond Evison"s hybrids. They are usually group 3 (I would say 2b according to my classification). He says pony tail cut! I am not sure about first picture, but the second one is Samaritan Joe. If you could post better pictures with close up of the antlers we can try to tell you more.
About pruning: clematises will flower anyway if you don't prune them. Pruning is a measure to manage the size of the plant and sometimes a way to increase flower production.
Group 1: if you cut it before flowering you will have NO flowers that season. Cut only after flowering to manage the size.
Group 2a: if you cut before flowering you would reduce the amount of flowers, but later in the season you will have a smaller flush
Group 2b: cut them to your heart, you will have flowers anyway. the only difference will be the time. Most of the recent hybrids can be in this group.
Group 3: There are 2 types in this group the big and tall, and the short and small. Cut them at the end of winter. If you don't cut big and tall you would have huge plants with flower on the top. Not good if you have limited space and want to look at the flowers from the ground and not from you second floor! Short and small usually produce more flowers if you cut them. Yours are in this group. You can cut them twice: before spring and after first flush of flowers. You will get a good second flush later in the season.
Raymond Evison"s hybrids are flowering machines! they don't care about cutting. You will have lots of flowers anyway prune or no prune. Just feed them well with Osmocote. Good luck.