That is a puzzler Lois. I have several clematis planted near the foundation, two plants within inches of it, and that has never posed a problem with mine blooming. Being on the south side of the house should give the plant plenty of sunshine so that shouldn't be a problem. You have pruned it correctly so that is not an issue.

What have you been feeding it? Too much high nitrogen fertilizer would cause nice green growth but no to few flowers. How does the plant and its leaves look health wise? Everything nice and green and vigorous?

Are you sure it actually is a Polish Spirit plant? This one is one of my most vigorous growers and flowerers. It is easily recognizable due to its deep reddish colored anthers. It is the upper center flower in the following picture as opposed to Blue Belle on the left and Etoile Violette on the right.

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I know I just recently read that this clematis is supposed to be a later bloomer although for me it has bloomed no later than any of the other viticellas I have. Perhaps it just hasn't come into bloom yet this season???

Maybe someone else can offer some other suggestions. Like I said having issues with Polish Spirit is a puzzler!!

Just a thought - were you hit with the late spring frosts this year? Although it didn't seem to have much impact on most of my plants, some were affected enough to bloom later than what is typical.

Thanks for your replies.
Nckvilledudes- When I pruned it I fertilized with Rose food but have not done anything since. I usually don't do much extra fertilzing as my area in Iowa has very rich,black soil. The leaves are nice and green. I actually went out and measured it and it is only about a yard tall where it is thick and then just a couple of branches growing from that. Lots of stems comming out of the ground but have no idea what happened to those branches. Probably intertwined.
If it does bloom finally I will post.
Janetpetiole-
We did have a late spring frost but if that is the cause it didn't affect any of my other plants. I guess I'll have to just wait and see.
Lois

Lois, let us know if it blooms later for you. Like I said, this is a puzzler unless if your soil is rich enough, the rose fertilizer put it over the edge nutrient-wise. Perhaps next year you should refrain from adding any additional fertilizer to see if that has any effect.

I doubt if it has anything to do with fertlizer, etc. that wouldn't result in 'no' blooms. Also nothing to do with frost. A 3rd year Polish Spirit should be loaded with blooms this time of year.

I don't mean to second guess but are you sure it was labeled correctly and is a viticella? If you are in zone 4 do you normally have much above ground live growth on your viticellas to trim back? Some places do and some don't depending on the length of winter, etc. Is there a chance it's actually a type 'a' alpina or bluebird, etc that blooms on old wood ...or a macropetalata of some type?

If it's a Polish Spirit then I wouldn't worry too much. Just leave it alone and it may bloom later in the season. If it doesn't I'd leave it alone next Spring and not cut anything back and see what develops. Cutting viticellas back isn't all that important in colder zones.

I will actually post if it blooms later or if it does not. It could be possible that it was labeled incorrectly. Did have a few purple blooms last summer but I did not pay attention to the anthers.I bought it as a viticella Polish Spirit. I'll try not pruning and see if that is the problem.
Thanks for the information.Lois

My Polish Spirit hasn't bloomed either.2 years ago I bought PS, Prince Charles, and Venosa Violecia from Song Sparrow. Last year some bloom on the other 2, none on PS. This year they filled the trellis, and the others bloomed very well. There has been exactly one flower on PS. The others are beginning their 2nd bloom now. I do believe the one I have is PS. Also my Earnest Markham is just now sending up bloom, seems very late to me for this one.

Flowergirl70ks
I thought I was the only person on the Clematis forum having problems with Polish Spirit. So many have mentioned that theirs are so vigorous. Well, there is a least two of us that can't say that! I decided today to try feeding it a fertilzer with a high middle number and see what happens.Thought it was worth a chance to experiment. Keep me posted if yours decides to bloom.
Lois

My 3 year old polish spirit only bloomed briefly in the first yrar

I have the same issue and i planted four thinking it is one of the longest blooming ones Any updates from thd other guys ?

I try to give clematis 3 to 4 years to grow before judging their bloom output. Depending on size at purchase, health, soil, season length, they may take that long to grow adequate roots to support blossoming.