It is much too early to make that assessment ..isn't it?..give them more time it's still quite early...Jeanne

I have to agree with Jeanne. What makes you think they are dead at this time of year? Short of having them in pots and physically dumping them out and seeing nothing but rotted remains, how do you know they are dead? If this is not the case, I think you are throwing in the towel way too early.

Really?

All of my other clematis are showing signs of life, some with some new growth, but not these ones. Also, the stems are thin and brittle all the way down to the soil. The stems on the others are thick and moist looking down by the soil, even if they don't look green at all. The ones I think are dead just look, well, dead.

I wasn't planning on doing anything with them anytime soon anyway, so I'll give it some time before I start plotting what to replace them with. Thanks for the encouragement!

Violetta, some clematis are quicker to show signs of new growth than others. I would wait until midsummer at the latest before I threw anything out. Even then I would dig the plants up and check to make sure they are really dead before I tossed them.

To be honest..I prefer to plant clematis in Oct or November here in my zone 8B..the roots get the loverly winter rains I get ( an less stressful on them adapting IMHO) and the rootsystem gets to spend the whole winter growing...and really are great come Spring..the ones I got from Jerome..there is only a few starting to bud...so time will tell...Jeanne

Wow, thanks guys! I feel much more optimistic about the potentially deceased than I did earlier! I'm looking forward to the possible resurrection...

They likely aren't dead. Our winters are not cold enough to kill them. Most of mine are not showing any signs of life yet.

Thin brittle stems are normal for new Clematis planted from small pots.

You need to cut all of them back so don't worry about what is growing now or not. Cut them all back and they'll sprout from the soil and from the short stems. You do not want to let them sprout from the ends only, especially in pots. You'll end up with scraggly vines with few flowers.

"You need to cut all of them back so don't worry about what is growing now or not. Cut them all back and they'll sprout from the soil and from the short stems. You do not want to let them sprout from the ends only, especially in pots. You'll end up with scraggly vines with few flowers."

Oh wow, that is such an appreciated tip. I already pruned the ones that have new growth, but I'll cut them back even more now. Thank you!

As expected, you all were right and I was very, very wrong.

The two Asao each have six - count 'em, SIX! - stems coming up, all with buds at the tips. Each are a good 3" or so tall already!

Dr. Ruppel and Viticella Vinosa each only have one stem, but I'm hoping more come up.

Inspiration is the big surprise. It has 3 stems coming up, and one of them has a bud already!

Thanks for everyone's patient replies at my stupidity and eagerness.

Part of me kind of wishes one of my Asao or Palette HAD croaked... I have 3 Palette and 2 Asao, and if one of them croaked I'd have a reason to buy something else!

Don't wish them dead. Maybe you could trade with someone for something you don't already have.

Impatient girls often miss dessert Violetta!! LOL Don't give up on anything too soon should be the mantra for clematis!

Good idea BorS.

Miguel - I usually just have dessert first if I want it that badly. ;0)

You sound like my grandmother. She always ate dessert first so she would have room for it! LOL

HA!

(*secretly thinks that's a fantastic idea*)

LOL Violetta!