Mazerolm, how's your soil? Such is often a major factor in the ability of clematis to establish, of course this can be said for most plants. For the most part, clematis are tough, though favoring deep rich soils that allow roots to run freely, as compared to poor or heavy compacted soils. I've had plants become giants in three years time and annually generously increasing the number of shoots produced. Was your clematis obtained as a small plant or a decent one gallon size?

They can take some time. Are you cutting it down in the Fall?

tj

This looks exactly like the Jackmanii I purchased from Bluestone three years ago. I thought it had disappeared this year altogether and suddenly discovered a bright purple flower on the ground far from the support. Glad to know I can count on it continuing to fill out.

Froze_budd: there are 2-3 inches of topspoil and underneath it’s mostly clay that I loosened and amended before planting. I’ve been adding rose fertilizer every Spring since planted, and I always water when it becomes dry. It was a one gallon when purchased, from a local nursery. Should I fertilize more often?

Tsugajunkie: I cut it down when snow has melted, and I leave about a foot. Does that sound ok to you?

kitasei: I’m glad yours came back! I love clematis, they’re one of my favourite plants!

Cutting to a foot before the growing season should be fine. I do the same only in late fall.

tj

Mazerolm, okay if that clay is really tough sticky stuff, then that could definitely be the problem when it come to vigor. I've got two types of clay in my yard, the easy to dig friable stuff and then there's the nasty hard sticky stuff that I almost need a jackhammer to deal with. I always dig huge planting holes for clematis, well unless the particular location has great soil. I then use good top soil and amend with copious amounts of peat moss and some compost.