Clematis hybrid seeds do take a while to germinate. They need alternating cycles of cold and warm to germinate. You can plant them in a pot and leave it outside and it will eventually germinate. It can take 6-18 months to germinate. You can put them in a baggie with vermiculite in the frig for 3 months and then at room temp for 3 months and repeat until you see signs of growth. I have had good luck with Nelly Moser seeds. The seeds from my plant have been very fertile and I have gotten a lot of seedlings from her. The seedlings have never looked like Nelly. They have been white, blue, pink, some with stripes, and some plain. It is always fun to see what you will get. There is a very wonderful web site that will give you lots of information on growing clematis from seed. Check out the link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: clematis from seed

I was taught this way and have found success with Macropetala Gazelle, Purple Spider, Markham's Pink, Blue Dancer (sprouted two weeks and still going, after removing from the fridge). Ken Donson and Wada's Primrose sprouted this July. Ken Donson got planted and Wada's Primrose is still in the baggie.

Put 1/4 cup dry vermiculite in a snack size reclosable baggie (I've been using the noname ones from Superstore as they're cheap and come in boxes of 75)
Add 1 1/2 tsp boiling water, shake to distribute moisture then let cool. Add seeds.
Put in warm place in diffuse light (not direct sun) about 20C for 4 weeks
Put in fridge (4C) 4 weeks.
Put in warm place in diffuse light where they will germinate in about 2 weeks usually. I transplant when they have germinated. Poke a hole in the potting soil with your finger and gently tickle the root down into the hole then carefully push the soil back around the root gently. I leave the seed leaves above ground for these types (for the bigger seeds like texensis and the Large Flowered Hybrids etc. I plant when the root is about 1/2" or longer and leave the seed right at or just below the soil surface. Often they will eventually send up a tiny shoot without the seed leaves showing above ground.)

I started the seeds December 4th 2007 on the fridge, then in the crisper, then under the grow lights for my amaryllis. I potted up the ones that sprouted and the ones that didn't, in late May I took the bags out to the greenhouse and pinned them to the frame. I have close to 30 seedlings potted up(some of the earlier ones are close to 8" long already.)
Naturally I can't wait to see what flowers I get off them.

I found the seeds I collected in England last year, and put in pots ouside for the winter have done nothing while my mother put those same seeds (in Januray and yes I actually shared my stash) into the vermiculite and she has 10-12 sprouted already. In fact my pots are full of buddlea seedlings!
Overall with colder climates the vermiculite is a better and more sure-fire method of germination.

Good luck with the seeds.
Dana

thanks both of you! I am going to give it a try

Karen