Depends on soil condition and exposure.

Here is a link that might be useful: Propagating Perennials

MaryAnn..clematis size varies with each variety..I have found age does play a part in the size...A baby clematis bloom most often will be small and off color..I find that most of mine show their true self the second year in my gardens...Jeanne

I agree with Jeanne. Each individual type of clematis will have a bloom size dependent on the variety, but newly planted clematis will often throw out blooms that are smaller than the plant will produce once it is mature. On a mature plant, if you get multiple bloom cycles on the same plant in any given growing season, the first bloom cycle will often produce larger blooms than any subsequent bloom cycles.

Different clematis will mature at different rates. Kermesina and Perle d'Azur seemed to take longer to get going in my garden than other varieties. Also, the size of the plant that you start out with will often impact how long it takes for any given plant to reach a mature state.

My lst love is hosta so I wondered if clematis, like hosta, need 5 years to make their best show. Most of my pampered clematis are 3 - 10 years old, flower lots but not big. I've been buying and killing them for a dozen years, finally learned to do it right. ~yeah~ As to variety, I'm sure I would never have bought any with "small flowers" in the description. lol

So maybe when you're showing off those 8" blooms, you could also note the age and exposure? Thanks for teaching us.

MaryAnn..if you are referring to my 8 inch bloom I posted on First Bloom of '08 ie "Mrs. Cholmondeley" she is two years old this year and was bought in a 2 1/2 inch pot at Lowe's...Jeanne

Thanks, Jeanne, she's quite amazing, and Mrs. Cholmondeley is lucky she got to live at your house.

Aww Thanks I just love her!!

Jeanne, I've put Mrs. Cholmondeley in a rather prominent spot. She's on my pergola paired either with Crepuscule or Jaune Desprez. I hope she can get at least 9ft tall.

Robert

Robert..sounds great..I have a Pergola with 6 posts and 6 climbing roses with 2 clematis on each post as well..they should all "merge" together at one point..I have "Mrs. Cholmondeley" combined with Clematis "The President" on my climbing rosa "Polka" next to climbing rosa "Crepuscule"..love that rose!!..Jeanne