I'm so sorry. Betty "leaped" for me the second year and I'm almost scared to see what she'll do this year.

It is a pleasant change from type II's that take longer than three to do anything.

Try another one Kathy. After you eliminate the critters, that is. My BC covered a trellis it's first year, it was massive it's second year :-). Mine came from Silver Star and had a huge root system to begin with so that may be why it took off so quickly.

Carol

Sorry about the loss Kathy. Betty Corning is definitely one that I would replant if I lost mine. The form plus the fragrance are divine and I couldn't imagine living without one. Consider caging your plant in the ground with a wire mesh box that you construct out of chicken wire to keep those pesky moles and voles away from it. Also, although mulch can be a great thing in the summer to keep the soil temp and moisture levels consistent, if you have moles and voles it would almost be better to pull it back away from the plant during the winter since that is when those buggers tend to nest in it.

I will definitely be ordering from Silver Star. The first one was a baby from Bluestone. I don't want to wait through the sleep, creep stage again! But I am pretty sure that it is "illegal" to order just one clematis when it has to come all the way from the west coast. I need to figure out what else I need.

I have a kitten in training that will hopefully be a great hunter and wipe out all these nasty rodents.

Kathy

I agree Kathy. The shipping for two clematis from Debbie would be the same as for one so definitely go for at least two or multiples there of. One thing I failed to mention earlier is that moles are meat eaters so aren't the culprits here. Voles are the vegetarians so they are the ones to blame for the demise of Betty!

Well I placed my order - Betty Corning and Girenas. Are you familiar with Girenas?

I am not sure if Betty Corning was eaten, or just replaced with a nest and then air and water around the crown and roots caused her demise.

Kathy

Never heard of it until you brought it up. I looked it up on COTW and there isn't much info there about it. Debbie seems to have more info on it probably based on her experience with it. Let us know how it works out for you.

Here is a link that might be useful: Girenas

Thanks for the link, Miguel. Sure is pretty.