Clematis armandii 'Snowdrift' (Evergreen Clematis)

Snowdrift Evergreen Clematis is a Pacific Northwest garden classic, covering fences and trellises year-round with bold, leathery dark green leaves and then erupting in early spring with masses of pure white, sweetly vanilla-scented flowers. Vigorous and fast-growing, it can reach 20 feet and produces a show that stops people in their tracks from March into April. OSU's landscape plants database highlights it as an outstanding performer west of the Cascades, right in the heart of Dragonfly Farm's territory.

Plant in moist but well-drained soil in a sheltered location with full sun to part shade, protecting it from cold, drying winds. Hardy to USDA zones 6 to 9, it is well-suited to the mild Oregon coast. Keep the root zone cool and shaded by mulching or underplanting with low groundcovers. Provide a sturdy trellis or fence, as the twining stems become substantial over time. Prune only after flowering, not before. Snowdrift blooms on prior-year wood (Pruning Group 1), and pruning in winter removes the coming spring's flower buds. Light shaping immediately after bloom is all that is needed to keep it in bounds.

All parts of clematis are toxic to pets and can cause mouth pain and ulcers if ingested, so plant thoughtfully in households with curious animals. In return for that one precaution, Snowdrift delivers years of evergreen privacy, early fragrant bloom, and the kind of structural presence that makes a garden feel finished.