Are those leaves shaded? Did it get too dry? My Clems often loose lower leaves when it gets hotter.

I planted 10 avalanche clematis last spring. Eight are okay for first year, one browned up in 2 days and died. Pulled the plant in the fall and found the root system was gone. Not sure why.

Sounds like either root rot or a critter of some sort eating the roots to me.

Lat summer I planted a clematis avalanche. It is onmy patio attached to a trellis on the garage wall. I took up one slab of the patio and planted it in the ground. It blossomed well and in the autumn grew strongly.In the last three weeks the leaves have begun to turn down and the top ones look as if they are dying off. It looks really weary.

I am really keen to save it
Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

I attended a seminar on Clematis yesterday. 'Avalanche' is one mentioned that needs excellent drainage. Doesn't want to dry out but can't take wet clay soils in winter especially. It was also mentioned that it sulks and has some stem die off after blooming.

All of the xcartmanii hybrids are a bit tricky to grow -- I would not recommend them for a beginner :-) Like many plants that originate from New Zealand (of which both parents are NZ native species), they seem to have very specific growing requirements that are not often successfully met in North American gardens. Dry winter soils being just one :-)

And it is not a particularly hardy clem. Zone 7 may be pushing it. I'd site it in a location that receives some reflected heat and with excellent drainage. It also does not appear to be very long lived. I've yet to encounter one locally (as well as my own growing experience) that survives more than a couple years. But then, our PNW soils tend to be a bit soggy in winter, even with very good drainage.

A great selection for southern California and other warm, dry climates.