Henryii has been a dog for me as well but I blame poorly preparing the planting hole and lack of pruning for the first five years. Since I've hard pruned he has been better though still not spectacular. A short bloomer too for me. :(

Clems that I planted in well worked amended beds have done far better than Clems just stuck in holes of which I'm afraid there are quite a few...

I tried to grow Henryii about 4 times with different plants from different sources with no luck, but the last one I got really took off for me. I have no idea why this one was so different from the others, but it's one of my best ones now. Go figure.

I hate to say it Janet but that landscaping fabric is probably the worse thing anyone can use..had it once eons ago and nothing did well..ripped it all out...My "Henryi" was sent to me from a friend who dugs hers up and divided it..it was on her mail box and HUGE..I was thrilled..it wilted the week after planting..cut it down to the soil line and BOOM..it's been outstanding every year since and is only getting bigger and more gorgeous with each passing year

I don't use landscape fabric, but there tiny little pots that they grow seedling in and it's usually not removed because it's suppose to rot away.

I wonder how many failed clematis are failing because of similar problems.

I should have tried to take photos. I don't explain things well.