I don't think that you can divide it. I wouldn't try it, it's really only one plant.

If you Google on "propagate clematis", you'll find descriptions on how to do prepare cuttings. I've never done it myself, but it sounds doable. Good luck, it will be nice if everyone in the family can get a cutting.

That's one of the things I miss about moving from zone 5 - I had about 20 clematis.

Mrs b, I have actually had success with dividing clematis. Mind you, I'm not *guaranteeing* that this will work for everybody. What I did/do is, with my fingers, work my way into the soil at the base of the clematis, and feel for natural divisions between where the stems meet the roots.

Then I take a serrated knife, and simply cut straight down where the natural division is, and try to get as much of the root system as possible. Then I plant the 'new plant' in it's new location. I wouldn't do this with a young plant - but one that has a large root system, and many stems growing from the ground. Good luck if you decide to go for it.