The division into individual pruning groups are just guidelines. At a previous garden I had way too many clems - around 60 or so - and there was no way I could keep track of who needed pruning when and how much. Other than the type 1's or no pruning required group - I treated them all the same - a late winter hard prune as if they were all type 3's. Other than delaying slightly the bloom period for the type 2's, when and how hard I pruned made NO impact on the flowering ability of the type 2's.

IME, which includes decades of growing clematis in all its forms as well as working for a local major wholesale clematis grower, hard pruning of any clematis type will not affect bloomage....other than with respect to timing. Type 1's or old wood bloomers should be pruned back (if needed or desired) as soon after the initial bloom cycle as possible in order to allow sufficient regrowth and ripening of the wood for the next season's blooms.

If hard pruning of a type 2 failed to produce any flowers, look to the timing issues or lack of sufficient sunlight. It is not the pruning that is the cause.

Where this non-flowering clematis is planted has been getting shadier every year. 10 years ago it was plenty sunny, but it's planted just north of a Japanese maple that is now 20 plus feet tall and has a nice canopy spread. It creates a wonderful understory for hosta and epimediums, but it's reach is perhaps getting to wide. Will look at what pruning I can do without impacting the health or look, and if need be relocate the clematis.

Thanks gg.