Has it been just one stem the entire 6 years?

It bloomed well for the first couple of years but I didn't know how to care for it. I have let it's growth alone but the upper growth seems to be supported by a single stem. Two years ago, it actually died to the ground during the heat of the summer when the sprinklers failed and I thought it was gone. It came back in the spring and I have been fertilizing, and watering and it has shown new growth that looks much better but I didn't prune, I just let it come up from the ground.

It's planting location is between some dward yaupon shrubs and a short brick wall. My idea was it would climb up and drape over the brick wall. I attached chicken wire to the wall for support.

Hope that helps.

Sounds like it wilted from the no-water hot summer you had and has come back..yes hard prune her just above her 3rd leaf axil and give her some rose or Tomato Fertilizer..she will rebound and be gorgeous...clematis will perform beautifully for you once you understand their needs..they need at least 6-8 hours of sun..keep the roots moist and feed with rose or tomato fertilizer in early Spring before it sets flowerbuds or after pruning...Jeanne

Yes, cut her back.