I planted a Ramona last year, along with a bunch of other clematis. Other than all 5 of my Bluestone clems and my Betty Corning from Brushwood never emerging this spring, most of the ones I planted showed signs of life in the spring. I pruned them all down to the first set of leaves a couple of months back, and Ramona was the only one that didn't come back after the pruning. The root ball was HUGE though, so I never gave up hope that there was some life down there. About a month ago, I saw two tiny things that I convinced myself were leaf buds at the bottom of the dead looking stalk, so I kept watering even though they never got any bigger than the head of a pin. DH was making fun of me for watering dead plant, but I kept at it.

Yesterday, I did my daily check and lo and behold there are THREE new stems popping up out of the ground!!! I'm so excited! I wonder if it took so long to emerge because Ramona is planted along a north fence, and maybe it's just too shaded. I'd hate to have to move it because it took me so long to dig the hole deep enough for the long roots, probably 2 feet at least.

Anyway, just wanted to post this since it looks like there are a few others worried that their clems are dead and maybe this will give a bit of hope. I've pretty much given up hope on my Betty Corning though, but will leave it alone this season just in case...