Thinman, different clematis will react differently in various gardens. The fact that it is still green and alive is a good thing and clematis will often take a rest before shooting out more vines. Just realize that clematis need time to get acclimated and their roots settled. When that is happening very little top growth will occur.

The fact that you planted a small plant that had evidently been through quite an ordeal when it arrived was evidenced by the fact that the chlorphyll had gone out of the plant and that is why it was white. This probably set the plant back and then planting the small plant directly in the garden probably just gave it a double setback. Just be patient, keep the plant watered and fertilized and in time, it will grow like it should.

Thanks for replying, N-dudes. Henry and I will just hang in there and hope for success eventually.

ThinMan

I just whacked mine back to 6" hoping that it will finally do something after five years. It was small and scraggly when I planted it and I did not hard prune it annually like I should have to get it off to a good start.