I would give it more time. It is a late blooming variety and it starts very slow for me also. It is just starting to leaf out for me in my zone 8 garden.

flowerfan, I have 3 pretty nice size babies of SA Clematis. What type of exposure is best in our area. Can they take a little bit of shade?

Thanks, Adrienne

Thanks Flowerfan & Adrienne. I wish I'd hear from someone in the colder zones to see if they have anything yet? But thanks for telling me that it is a slow one to appear Flowerfan. I don't know about that shade thing Adrienne, but I was led to believe that this plant is pretty hardy, so maybe it would tolerate a bit of shade.

Hi Adriene, yes it can take part shade. I have mine in a morning sun location. It blooms for me mid Sept-October. It's always my last clematis to bloom. It gets very large so give it some room.

No nothing on two of mine just yet. We will see. My friend has three and they are taking off. I was thinking because mine are younger they are taking longer to get going. Also hers are in all day full sun and mine are in about half day sun. Everything is full sun is about a week ahead of averything in half day. Hope they come soon!!! Amy

I have not seen any sign of my SAC yet. I planted a gallon pot size late last summer and it grew like crazy-up and over a old clothesline pole.It's been really cold here so hopefully that's the problem.
Lois

I'm in CT and my SAC looks like the whole base of the vine got wacked by a husband with a weed wacker, and I have nothing showing any life. Do you think it's gone???

I have a young one too, on the north side of my house, and nothing here yet either. I'm glad that I'm not the only one. Hopefully in the next 2 weeks. Can we all report back when we see life please.

Mine also was a gal. container planted last fall & caseraaaa mine absolutely looks like my hubby wacked it with a weed wacker..but nobody did that. Bloomorelse has a wonderful Idea for us all to ck. back in with reports when we see life. Fingers crossed here.

Give it more time. I frequently think my SAC really is dead this year, but it never is. It comes back from being completely whacked off at 6" to grow 15' every single year. I don't know where it gets the energy.

oops, I should have read down the forum before I posted my question up top. I'm glad to hear that others are coming out slowly this spring - even in warmer zones. I usually have growth by now so I was feeling a little panicked. Guess I'll breathe again. This is a seven year old clem so I'd hate to lose it.

Mine is also morning sun only and gets really large and blooms like crazy so the partial shade doesn't seem to affect it at all.
Sue

Mine was severely hurt by the Easter Freeze last year, so much so that it didn't even bloom and only got about 5 feet tall (it has gotten 30+ feet in a season previously).

I checked on the old stems this year and they were soft and crumbly, so I pulled out what I could. I just noticed a little green sprout coming from the middle of what is left, so I'm optimistic that it will likely be just fine.

Last year's slow recovery gave the kiwi next to it a chance to stretch out moreso than it usually can. I'm sure this year will be interesting as SAC tries to fight back the kiwi (my money is on the clematis as it has traditionally pushed growth out faster than the kiwi has)

~Chills

Ok, I think I may feel better after reading this post. My SAC still isn't showing any life yet either.

Since it's been several days since the last post here, can you all please report, are you seeing anything yet, expecially in colder areas. I'm in Milwaukee, zone 5.

Susanbloom I'm in SE Michigan & I still see nothing on my SAC & it's in full sun. My smaller Clemy is up today, but still nothing from SAC. Worried in Michigan.

Carol...

If you're truly worried, look for a low part of a stem and gently scratch the stem. If the underside is green, then keep waiting. If not check lower and lower until you hit green or dirt. If you hit dirt without green, all hope is not lost, but the plant (if it is going to return) may take a while.

Alternatively, if you're nearby (me) in SE Michigan, check out Semerau Nursery in Eastpointe, they have 1 quart SAC's for $9.95 as well as a good selection of other varieties (Florida Sieboldii and Triternata Rubromarginata) and other perennials as well.

If you need more specific directions, let me know.

~Chills

Ok, good news here. I have 3 new green stems just poking out of the ground. Mine had died right down completely and now sending up new stems. It was just planted (with 1 stem) last summer...so this should be creep year? Anyone else see growth yet?

Joan

Bloomorelse,
Creep can be a bit different for SAC than other clematis. I planted a very small plant in late fall and the next summer (last summer) the plant reached to the roof of my second story. I hung a small chain and even though the plant wasn't full like a bush, about 4 branching vines made it up. Pretty cool. I hope mine comes up because I was really hoping for an even better show this year.

This plant is at our summer cottage and I'm looking forward to seeing if anything poked up this weekend.

Susan

Checked again today and see nothing yet. Still waiting !!!

Pump toad I'm in the same boat. Nothing yet, but these folks are giving me encouragement, so we should stay positive. Thanks Joan.

Chills I'm in Adrian. A sm. country town about 25 mis. south of Ann Arbor. I have a daughter living in Farmington Hills, are you anywhere near either of us? At the price of gas, I think twice about driving for a bargain, but perhaps you are on my way to her place?

Susan let us know what you find at the cottage. Got my fingers crossed for you.

Carol

I'm in Saint Clair Shores. (further east than your daughter by about 30 or so minutes)

From Farmington Hills your daughter would go 696 East the Gratiot exit. From the exit, turn right and drive approx 1 1/2 miles. The nursery is on the right-hand side just south of 10 mile road. They are open daily except for Sundays.

The is another great nursery more out your way, well at least not in this direction. They do stock species clematis, but not cultivars like we normally discuss in this forum. I will include the link to their website at the bottom of this page. If the link does not work, the place is called Arrowhead Alpines and it is located in Fowlerville. For me the drive is worth it as they stock more unusual plants than almost anywhere else in the Midwest, heck they probably have one of the largest stock of plants in the country.

~Chills

Here is a link that might be useful: Arrowhead Alpines

Hi from Waukesha, WI (just west of Milwaukee). I have 2 SAC...a week ago there was no sign, but today there are many shoots up and some are nearly a foot long! I like the idea of a chain to help it up my arbor, but the vines are so tender and wayward, I'm afraid I'm going to need some chicken wire or something! Any ideas?

Carol,
When I visited the cottage in central Wi I saw no new growth and almost cried. Got down on my knees though and picked around in the dirt and lo and behold, green shoots coming up, yeah! She is rising like the phoenix!

Laurenwiz5, the chain (or several chains spaced apart) really do work. I used very thin chain with links. I used those plastic cinch ties, from the hardware store, to attach the chain to the pole that goes up the side of my house, rather than drill any holes. I did give the first vine or two a little boost help training it where to find the chain (a couple of tiny wire ties or break twistys help here). Once she got going though, the next vines grab onto the first one or two and they help eachother to climb.

I also strapped the lower end of the chain, just it wouldn't swing in a high wind and tear my vines. Let us know what you do and how it works.

Susan

Reporting from zone 4 Iowa and finally noticed a couple of shoots.Stay postive and I'll bet you will see something soon.
Lois

Hello everyone: I am a new to the SAC "Sweet Autumn Clematis" ! I got a small 1/2 gallon SAC this summer" July 2008", planted and its in bloom right now " beautiful 100's of tiny white flowers but no scent" no perfume, I bought it not only cause the showy flowers but more for the sweet aroma, and mine doesnÂt have the aroma, any one can give me a hint? Why mine doesnÂt have the sweet smell? I got mine from a very reputable seller on my area ERIE PA,
Thanks very much in advance.

Mine took a couple of years before the fragrance became apparent. Don't give up too soon! Plants grown from cuttings of plant that have a fragrance will have a fragrance. If it was grown from seed, it may or may not ever have a fragrance. The best way to determine if you will have a fragrant plant is to purchase it when it is in bloom and see if it has a fragrance then.