Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Clematis 'Comtesse de Bouchaud' bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Comtesse de Bouchaud clematis, mauve pink clematis (Clematis 'Comtesse de Bouchaud').
More about clematis 'comtesse de bouchaud'
About Clematis 'Comtesse de Bouchaud'
Clematis 'Comtesse de Bouchaud' · also called Comtesse de Bouchaud clematis, mauve pink clematis · flowering
A reliable large-flowered climbing clematis bearing rounded, satiny mauve-pink blooms with cream anthers from midsummer into early autumn. A Group 3 cultivar, it flowers on new growth, so hard prune in late winter. Vigorous, free-flowering and disease-resistant, it suits trellises, obelisks and trained walls, and tolerates a north or east aspect.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Hot, dry roots: Stressed roots reduce flowering and invite wilt. Shade the base with mulch, a slab or low planting and keep the root zone consistently moist.
The reasons clematis 'comtesse de bouchaud' isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming clematis 'comtesse de bouchaud' traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:
- Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
- Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
- The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
- Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
- It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.
Feeding clematis 'comtesse de bouchaud' a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
The fix — how to get clematis 'comtesse de bouchaud' to flower
- Maximise sun. Give clematis 'comtesse de bouchaud' the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
- Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
- Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
- Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.
Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for clematis 'comtesse de bouchaud' and get the feeding right with the clematis 'comtesse de bouchaud' fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.
Bloom season and what to expect
Clematis 'Comtesse de Bouchaud' flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
Post-bloom care so it flowers again
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full clematis 'comtesse de bouchaud' care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Clematis 'Comtesse de Bouchaud' blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my clematis 'comtesse de bouchaud' flower?
Clematis 'Comtesse de Bouchaud' blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
How do I make clematis 'comtesse de bouchaud' bloom?
Give clematis 'comtesse de bouchaud' the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
When does clematis 'comtesse de bouchaud' normally bloom?
Clematis 'Comtesse de Bouchaud' flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
What should I do with clematis 'comtesse de bouchaud' after it flowers?
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
What is the single biggest mistake stopping clematis 'comtesse de bouchaud' flowering?
Feeding clematis 'comtesse de bouchaud' a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Clematis 'Comtesse de Bouchaud' care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Clematis 'Comtesse de Bouchaud' light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Clematis 'Comtesse de Bouchaud' fertilising — the right feed for buds, not just leaves
- Should I water my plant? The simple check
- Why is my plant wilting? Wet vs dry
- Underwatered plant — signs and rehydration
- Why won't my peace lily bloom?
- Why won't my jade plant bloom?
- Why won't my tomato bloom?
- All 1410 bloom guides in the Growli library