nice job! sweet autumn is one of the best cultivars out there

Nice plant you have there and I am sure that it will get bigger over time. Unlike randytootal, I would be hesitant to call SAC one of the best clematis out there. There are plenty of others that are just as floriferous and don't have the issue of reseeding that this plant can have.

There does seem to be a magic dividing line where it doesn't reseed much, though, Miguel. Here in my particular z5 I'll get a seedling or two every year or two, depending on the type of winter. In my partner's home state, Pennsylvania, his parents live in a z6 area near some woods where it's reseeded everywhere.

So perhaps z5, if you have the warm summers necessary for bloom, are in fact the perfect place for this clematis!

I'm going along with Miguel on this one :-) While I've yet to see SAC reseed here, it is simply too thuggish for my garden and with such a limited bloom season that I am seriously considering removing mine this season after it finishes blooming. There are too many great, long blooming clems out there to have to do annual battle with this monster that is hell-bent on devouring most of my garden. The harder I cut it back, the bigger it grows. It is currently taking up about a third of my modest front yard......I'll take some photos of it once it comes into full bloom.

I planted one last summer and only had 2 flowers. This year, it has put on decent growth for its reputation, and started to flower this week. But I'm so dissappointed that it doesn't have the scent that my 1st one had.

I agree Michael that there is something about zonal regions and the plant's ability to reseed. However I still think that there are many other types of clematis out there that are much longer blooming and floriferous. The other thing is that this one tends to get so much hype about how great it is and rarely is the possibility of reseeding mentioned.
Not an issue if you live in a zone where reseeding is not an issue, but a big issue if you do and don't realize it.

I agrees about SAC GG. My plant has not been fertilized in years and even in the drought conditions we have experienced the past two years it continues to do well with no watering by me. It is tough, but reseeds vigorously in my garden. I pulled up another vine just yesterday and have been cutting the seed heads off the plant over the past few years to prevent reseeding. Mine has just finished blooming and this year to help speed up the trimming of the seedheads I am going to cut all vines back by half rather than trying to cut off the tips of the branches. I was going to do it today but it is raining--not that I am complaining at all about the rain here though!

Joan, my SAC didn't have any scent for the first two years or so it was in my garden. It does now. Don't give up on the fragrance just yet.

That is lovely, Summer, but it's just the beginning!

This is my SAC, 2nd year for it. I have not found any
reseeding, and it did not have a fragrance last year and
very small amount this year. It was cut off to the ground
last fall and will be again this fall.The blooms don't
last long. I tried trimming as it grew, but I think it just
made it more vigorous :) Happy gardening, caroline
{{gwi:269125}}From Gardener

I'm glad I haven't planted this monster in my small yard but jealous of how lush it is. My type IIs are mostly scraggly in comparison.

Beautiful pictures of the SAC. I planted a Sweet Autumn in May of 2007 and although it grew vigorously, there were very few blooms. I don't have any more growth this year from last but the plant is now covered in buds. Our nights have gotten very cold but no frost yet. Can someone from the colder climes let me know if frost will prevent the buds from opening. Any magic formula to get it to bloom earlier in the season?

It chokes all of my azaleas and anything else that gets in its way. I am almost afraid that it will get me when I get in there and start ripping it out by the fistful. I love the way it looks...in someone elses yard :) c

no problem for me here as well- grows well and slightly reseeds, would be happy if it did more, have plenty of people who want those seedlings. I have no other clem that blooms at this time so SAC is indispensable.