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Sweet Autumn Clematis

18 years ago

I purchased the Sweet Autumn Clematis last summer/fall and planted it and this spring it has 3 branches of vine from it but only one has grown and it's about 6 feet if stretched out. The other two are only about 5 or 6 inches long. I have it growing and climbing on some hardware netting on my neigbors privacy fence and thought it would fill in real nicely. Why won't the other part of the vine grow? Is all the energy going into the one part of the vine that is growing? What do I do?

Lora

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Comments (5)

suzymac
18 years ago
Clematis take several years to reach maturity. It sounds as if you purchased a very young plant. In time it will 'eat' your entire trellis and privacy fence ! This vine gets huge !
Just make sure to prune the entire plant to 12" in late winter.
Suzy
rdh1994
Original Author
18 years ago
It might have been fairly young, I bought it from a local greenhouse and it was growing quite nicely on a small trellis within the pot. But a stupid rabbit ate it down to nothing last summer/fall when I planted it. But it came back this year but only growing like I mentioned. I was hoping to have some more growth than 1 branching vine this year though. I guess I'll just be patient. Thanks

Lora
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I dunno--maybe it has something to do with the region you live in, but in Zone 6 Kansas, Sweet Autumn Clematis is a weed--self-seeds prolifically and grows everywhere you don't want it. I swear I get hundreds of "volunteers" popping up all over my backyard every year. As pretty as the bloom can be, I hate this aggressive spreader so much that I cant even enjoy its bloom for more than a minute or two. Kate
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WANTED: Clematis terniflora - sweet autumn clematis cuttings
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Well, you may be a good candidate for the vile weed. My aunt (from Washington) was here last year when it flowered, and was admiring it. I sent her photos of it absolutely all over the woodland near the lake, and the areas around a creek. I think I convinced her it was evil (though it may not have been in her dry cold climate). I mentioned that fact to her (just in case). The other thing is that sometimes it smells sweet, other plants smell VILE and attract flies, it's rather variable. Hee, maybe it's a survival tactic though...there's more flies in the world than bees. If no one gets you cuttings, i can probably provide in spring. I don't think in my heat, trying to ship cuttings now would be good. And fall would be a bad time to root them. I'd rather send you an entire plant...but it's awfully hard to find a small one..maybe because they grow so fast.
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Sweet Autumn, not as spectacular a photo this season. I found a New way to use my pesky Maple tree this season. My Huldine(spelling) clematis is blooming now. I know it's a late bloomer but it was added this spring, not sure if this is too late for it. SA dies back to the ground here, I do find a new seedling every year but I do remove them, I have three of these in my garden and they do smell good. SherrySherry
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Comments (3)
I planted two on my balcony last summer against a trellis (for a privacy screen). But they died during the harsh winter here (zone 6). I had three more that I ordered in the fall and which were in smaller pots and kept closer to the balcony interior wall. They survived and are doing well now. Not sure this is of any help as i can't explain what happened. Still trying to figure it out. (Another clematis in a larger pot -- that I've had for about 5 years and which was against the interior wall also died this winter.)
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flowergirlon
18 years ago
I planted one last summer as well, and it was a lot later coming up this spring than my other clematis. I thought it was dead because all the others were up about 4 ft. before there was any sign of the sweet autumn. I am assuming this is because it is a fall bloomer. It's now about 7 ft. tall, with one really thick stem, and 2 or 3 shorter, thinner ones. It's working overtime to catch up, and is now growing at least 6 inches a day. ( my kids have been checking!)
CanadianCeedub
18 years ago
I bought a SAC this spring and planted it on a north-west facing wall. The growth is also disappointing, in comparison to my other two, which are in their "leap year" this year. I agree that maturity is the key here - a young clemmie won't grow as much as an older one. Just wait until next year and the year after - you'll be wondering how to deal with all the foliage like I am with my other two...lol.
Christine
pinkcarnation
18 years ago
I agree with Suzy about pruning back to 12"!! I have found that this plant LOVES it!! Last winter my arbour fell down and the thing was on the ground all winter. My Clematis looked dead & I cut it all the way down to the ground, but didn't disturb the roots. Finally, one little green stem popped up and now my arbour is densely covered and setting buds. I don't know if the location has anything to do with it(the arbour is located on the NW corner of my home), but it gets almost no sun and seems to thrive there. Good luck with yours!!

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