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Is it dead or just sleeping?

18 years ago

I have about 20 clematis growing in my small yard. I just purchased a second SAC. My first SAC was planted in the spring of 2006. It did okay that year, growing about 8 feet and blooming well in the fall. Last year it grew awesome!! I was so excited about the hundreds or possibly thousands of blooms that fall. This spring I pruned it as I had the previous year but I have see no sign of life. I'm very disappointed as this should have been it's year to "leap". I dug down a bit, away from the crown and the roots look healthy and happy. There's just no growth from the crown. I know Clematis can take a year off, but is it common for SAC to do this?

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Comments (2)

janetpetiole
18 years ago
I've heard that a lot this spring from people in zones 4 & 5, including me, but mine doesn't count because I moved it last year and moved it again this year. I read somewhere that SAC is marginally hardy in our zone. I don't know if that is true or not, but it sure seems like it's possible.
nckvilledudes
18 years ago
If the roots are still alive, then I would leave the plant alone and see what develops over the rest of this growing season. If you had a later warm up or extended cold this spring, that could have just set the plant back more. I know the urge is always there to dig around to see if there is anything coming out of the crown but doing so may end up with you breaking off new shoots and further set the plant back. Once again, Patience is the key with clematis.
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Clematis disease unseen prior

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