I'm taking the plunge and I am planning on purchasing a clem (or two or three) for my mother who lives in Zone 5b (central Massachusetts). I live in zone 7b and frankly don't remember much of life in zone 5b anymore as I haven't for 20 years or so. Could anyone who lives in a similar zone recommend a good shipping date? I was aiming as this for a mother's day gift but I am not sure if May is "safe."I have my eye on some pruning group 2 clems, possible a group 3 as well. Any advice is appreciated.
I do know there is record snowfall up there & I am hearing the lament that it will be July before it all goes away!
Ship dates for zone 5b?
Depends on the size of the clematis, if your buying a decent size clematis root system then I would feel safe to plant at anytime the ground can be worked in mid to late April. If it's a smaller band I would pot them up, baby them all summer and plant in the fall. There are a ton to pick from as far as choices go, try to narrow it down by color and try to stay with a group 2-3. Some nurserys will even group them as beginer clematis, those will be hardy and quick growers. I like Polish Sprit for a nice purple and it grows quickly.
Diamond- that's funny, PS is one I was considering both because it has been noted as a beginner and because of the word "Polish!" (Polish heritage in this family!)
There you go! you won't be disappointed. It's a great cleamatis.
I'm guessing that a good shipping date would be late May. Maybe others from that zone will post to verify my thoughts.
I agree with late May for a delivery date. It is possible to get snow and frost after that date but they don't last long and I've never lost a plant because of them.
Many group one clematis are already blooming or at least leafing out pretty good by the middle of April, Clematis are perennials. I'm in zone 5b. You certainly can wait until the last frost but you don't have to. I plant clematis in the late fall often and the plant goes through a winter just fine.
I'm just hoping the 60+ inches of snow melts!
We are going into the upper 40's next week. I expect a real mess. We have had above normal amounts of snow this year that's for sure. There could be a chance for some late killing frosts this year because of the unusual winter we have had. So with this in mind, it just might be better for you to wait until May to work in the clematis. I remember three years ago we had late killing frosts in April and it did do a number on my roses and clematis. Now I'm gun shy!!
I recall that horrible frost. It killed my daughter's magnolia that was over 50 years old and didn't hurt ours, which isn't even 15 years old and we're only 7 miles apart. Mid April is a scary time with magnolia blossoms.
That frost 3 years ago even hit us in zone 7. It didn't kill anything of mine, but it did cause me to fry a hardy salvia. I had covered it with a turned over nursery pot... a black one! I forgot and went to work and returned to a crisped plant. The funny thing is that by the fall that salvia was crazy with blooms. It just took a while to get there.
We're in the same zone.
I never knew frost like that would penetrate a pot. Live and learn.