How to prune clematis 'dr. ruppel'

Late winter (February–March); light trim after first flush in late spring/early summer. Remove dead stems at the base. Shorten healthy stems to the topmost plump bud pair — typically just 30–60 cm of reduction. After the first flush, trim spent stems back by about one-third to stimulate late-summer regrowth and flowering.

Annually (late-winter tidy + post-first-flush trim). Yes, lightly — 'Dr. Ruppel' is a Group 2 large-flowered clematis with early blooms on old wood (spring) and a second flush on new growth (late summer). Avoid hard pruning. In late winter, cut out dead and weak stems and trim remaining stems back to the highest pair of healthy buds. After the first flowering, lightly shorten flowered stems by one-third.

Remove dead stems at the base. Shorten healthy stems to the topmost plump bud pair — typically just 30–60 cm of reduction. After the first flush, trim spent stems back by about one-third to stimulate late-summer regrowth and flowering.