Hi sunnytop, I also planted a baby multi-blue at the end of last summer. I have mine in dappled shade. The first bloom opened for me just recently and it is small but a deep vibrant blue-violet. Mine also does not have an extensive set of vines but generally looks healthy. I will be cutting off the blooms when they are spent to prevent it from going to seed this year to allow for it to concentrate it's energies on becoming stronger. I may even pinch it back a bit too.

I suspect yours is probably getting too much sun. The color will be washed out depending on how much sun they are exposed to. You may notice when the bud is just beginning to open that it is a deeper shade, then as the days progress it will be fading.

My Multi Blue barely bloomed it's first few years, it wilted and looked a mess. I was considering getting rid of it, but this year it bloomed fairly well even though I forgot to fertilize it in spring.

Clematis are not instant gratification plants, but worth the wait.

My multi blue is not a performer either. I planted it in mostly shade in front of a grape vine and a climbing hydranga about 5 years ago as I wanted some colour in that area. I usually get a flower per year and never doubles. This year, I actually got six blooms and it is quite stunning with the dark green foliage of the climbing hydranga. I don't think it will ever be a big performer, but I will leave it there anyway. Probably nothing else will bloom either.

Charlotte

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Hi, I finally had a chance to take a picture of my one lonely bloom from my multi blue. First and only bloom so far but this is the color of it when it is in mostly shade with a little dappled sunlight.

Tracy

That is a beautiful lonely bloom! It is much healthier and prettier than mine. I see a couple new blooms just coming on mine now. I'm anxious to see what the new blooms look like if they ever materialize. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Sunny. It is a pretty little guy. Take some pictures of your Multi Blue and we can maybe make some better guesses of a problem if there is one. Do some close ups of the leaves, blooms, then some of the whole plant. There are some real smarties here that can offer advice on how to handle it. These folks are teaching me new tricks all the time.

Okay but first I'll wait to see what the new blooms look like. They aren't going to be developed enough to bloom for a while yet. They are itty bitty buds right now. Unless that's because that's an indication of the size the blooms are going to be.

Sounds like a plan. I'll be checking back to see when you post the new pictures.