Due to your location, you may see a lot of die back this winter (expect anything above the snow line to die back in a cold winter). Crapes are late to leaf out in spring. Next May, cut out dead branches, see what you have left, and take it from there. Please don't do any pruning this fall.

if it lives thru winter.. consider moving it. if the spot is not proper ...

i am a little mystified.. that a zone inappropriate plant.. would seed around ... im sure its possible.. it just surprises me ...

but perhaps we should confirm the ID .... and chance at a pic???

ken

Here it is. This was taken a few weeks ago when it was in full bloom. As you can see, it's right in front of a picket fence with an autumn clematis growing on the fence and adjoining arbor. The clematis is trying to take over the world, so that particular spot must be just right for plants.

I have no idea where this plant came from. We live in the country, so no close neighbors. In the background is the nearest crepe myrtle I have, but it is red. About 30 yards away is my only other pink. 50 yards or so is a white one, the first I planted, 15 or so years ago. This volunteer is almost as large as the white already, so I'm pretty sure it wants to be very big. . The area is pretty protected. The red is north of the new guy and there are buildings (house and shed) to the west. I really don't have a problem with where it is now if it can be made to stay smaller -- that's why I asked about pruning. I did cut off some of the longer branches this spring already. With the concrete patio so close, I really think moving it will kill it -- not able to get enough roots. They're probably growing under the concrete.

I would think of it as a die-back perennial in your area. Leave it until spring, if it lives move it. Cool how a crepe volunteered itself, never seen that happen before (and I have lots of crepes).

Logan, you aren't aware that crape mytles grow very readily from seed? VERY readily, in some locations. The seedlings are not clones of the parents, however.

Seeds are scattered in the wind or by birds.

I have grown them from seed before, but have NEVER seen them volunteer.

Thanks all for the advice. If anyone else has some, I'll appreciate that as well. I'm still concerned the little fellow won't survive a move because of not being able to get enough root. So I guess I can't control the size by pruning, huh?

see if it dies back to the ground or not. What is your USDA zone? If you are below 7a then it will not grow into a tree, but it will be a die-back perennial.

You could cut it to the ground every spring.

junco, not very good advice.

It might not be the optimum situation, but since the plant is too big in only one year, cutting it down every spring would control the size, take care of winter dieback, and eliminate ugly knobs from improper pruning.

junco, cutting to the ground yearly is another example of improper pruning. google crepe myrtle pruning and follow some of the southern living articles.

Yes, but rejuvenation pruning isn't something to be done yearly. I am pretty sure they bloom on new and old wood.

lets talk about the elephant in the room ... and outside the box you are sitting in ....

the invasive.. in some areas.. clematis ...

https://www.google.com/search?q=autumn+clematis&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8#q=autumn+clematis+invasive

first ... if its the problem ... then cut it to 3 to 6 inches .. and get it out of there ... with no insult to the root mass .. it will be about half as big next year ...

second ... any plant can be moved ... timing is key.. and the cement patio has nothing to do with it .... obviously you have no experience with such based on your comments ... but it can be done ... walk thru any nursery... they would have no business if plants couldnt be moved ...

might it be worthwhile to hire a landscaper to move it for you ..???

btw .. vines are easier to pull out of things.. if you cut them.. and let them dry ... so they lose their grip ... so cut it in late fall ... and leave it for winter.. then go get that thing out of there ....

ken

I've moved a lot of stuff. I was concerned with the fact it is growing next to concrete on one side and bricks on two other sides -- not too easy to dig through either of them to get at roots. My question was if I can control the size of the CM with pruning. From what I'm reading, I'm thinking the answer is probably not. I'll give it a try, though, early next spring and see what it does and what I'll need to do.. Had I planted it, I would know how large it wants to be, but I'm flying blind in this situation.

BTW, I do prune the clematis every year and love it where it is. Because of advancing age (mine, not the plant's) and too many hot days here, it did get away from me a bit this year. I'll remedy that early spring.

Thanks all for the discussion and advice.

I usually cut my clematis terniflora vines about 1ft from the ground every winter.

norar, if getting rid of the vine is a goal you have, it is much easier and far more effective to cut the stem(s) near where they exit the ground and immediately dab a bit of concentrated glyphosate or triclopyr herbicide-I'm talking simply daubing a bit on the cut surface...and no grubbing out of anything will be needed.

I don't want to get rid of the vine -- the smell instantly takes me back to childhood since my mother had one. I planted this and it's right where I want it. Well, most of it is where I want it! But I can take care of the rest. It's the CM I'm concerned with. I'd almost decided to just get rid of it, but the leaves are starting to turn bright red. It knows how to make me keep wanting to keep it. I'll try moving it. Around here fall is best for moving things, but people on this forum say spring. Is that due to regional preference or something to do with the CM itself?

You're not supposed to be able to grow crapes in Illinois. Fifty years ago, when I was a kid in southeast MO, there were no crapes north of Memphis. Times have changed ( hardier crape varieties? Climate change? Who knows...) Your garden is lovely and your crapes are certainly thriving. Sure, you can move it. If you move it in fall, it may not settle in before winter. Since you're thinking about killing it anyway, the survival chances don't matter.

Your clematis is beautiful. SAC will take as much space as you can give it and it sure is pretty. My neighbor is trying to grow one on her mailbox and its really too large for the space.

It looks shrub like. In the spring, you could try to prune it into more of a tree form. Remember, crepe myrtles don't need pruning in order to bloom.

It may be a die-back perennial. Leave it alone until next year, post an update next spring. The clematis vine needs some serious pruning, they don't grow that fast in one season. I would prune close to the ground. I prune mine somewhere around 1ft from the ground.

I am bumping this old thread.I planted 2 white crepe myrtles around 7 yrs ago.Its as the base of a pretty steep hill on my property.I have about 12 small crepe myrtle suckers plants growing near them on the steep hill.I am assuming these are from seeds?I have already dug half of them and transplanted them.They looked rough after I gve them a new spot, but all of them have rooted.I gently pulled up on the branches and they have defantly taken root but the leaves have died and fell off.3 of them have started producing new leafs but the other 4 have not yet.

Anyway after digging them up it look like they was connected to the big mature trees via root.But I guess I was wrong?