I planted a Clematis hendersonii last year and got two nice stems. While I have a nice healthy new stem starting, both the old stems are dead looking. Is this normal for this clematis or should I be doing something for the plant? It gets mostly morning sun, with plenty of water in a sandyish soil. It gave me a few flowers last year, and I''m hoping it will cover a wire fence with pretty blue flowers eventually.

I only have had two other clematis, a tanigutica and a white small-flowered one called something like chrystotoma. They both had the old stems releaf beautifully in the spring.