How old are they? The short one may just be concentrating on making super roots. Sounds like you are doing everything right.

Marie in ME

I second Marie's questions. Clematis spend time developing roots and sometimes don't put out much top growth. Give the plant the proper treatment and it should do fine. Also, realize that just like people not all clematis of the same cultivar may be equally as vigorous as others.

Thanks, Eden and Nck. This is their third Spring-- I planted them two years ago as bare root (I was a complete newbie then).

Well that might explain why your clematis are taking a while to get established. Next time try potting your bareroot clematis up in one gallon sized pots and growing them out for a year or so prior to planting them in the garden. I bet they will get established better that way and not have such a lag time in their growth pattern. Continue to water and fertilize your clematis now and I am sure that in a while they will respond to your treatment.

last year this particular Clematis grew quite high and flowered nicely. TIA, Debra.