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Just got my Sweet Autumn Clematis from Garden Crossings

14 years ago

and it looks great. They were so fast with shipping. I ordered it Saturday and just got it today Tuesday. I can't wait to see it in action next spring and summer. I have a whole hedge line for it to grow up and through. I just hope it will have enough time now to settle in before winter comes here.

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Comments (7)

unprofessional
14 years ago
I think you'll be just fine. I've done some fall planting just a couple of weeks before the first frost, before. Plant just looks like it withers away, and then pops right up first thing next spring.
hibiscusjoe
14 years ago
You've got more than enough time before winter in NE Ohio. Take time in the preparation. add lots of goodies when you amend the soil- it all pays off in the years to come.
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Sweet Autumn Clematis question...
Q
Comments (1)
Romanticdreamer, my SAC does the exact same thing that yours does and has done so for the entire 5 years it has been in place. My explanation for why the leaves on the interior part of the plant brown out is that the leaves are so hidden from the sunlight as the amount of leaves and vines increases that the ones that are hidden from the sun can't photosynthesize and therefore they die. The problem gets worse as the season progresses and the amount of leaves increases on the top and shades out the interior leaves. It can be rather unsightly but it has never hurt my plant or its ability to bloom. As for the leaves on the backside of your plant, the same could be the reason there. If that side of the plant is in a shady area or is shaded by the increasing size of the plant, that could be the reason. Another possibility is that some clematis don't like the extreme heat and humidity, especially here in the south. Typically, my type II clematis have serious brown out problems once the temps get above 85 degrees. As I said earlier, my SAC has done this interior brown out thing for the five years I have had it, even during years when we have had cooler and wetter weather so I think the most probable cause of your interior brown out is the exterior vines of the plant shading out the interior vines and causing them to die. As for your evergreen clematis, there could be several explanations for one growing better than the other including differing soil fertility in the areas in which they are planted, soil moisture levels, amount of sun one plant gets versus the other, the amount of cold winter wind one plant may be exposed to versus the other, or even just genetic differences in the hardiness of one plant versus the other. You didn't say how long the two plants have been planted so it may just be that one plant got established quicker than the other one. One other possibility is that something is eating the roots of the slower growing plant, not enough to kill the plant but just preventing it from being as robust as the other. See if you can see any visible signs of this. Other than that, providing the smaller one with adequate moisture, mulch, and fertilization are your only alternatives at this time--that and wait and see how the less robust one performs over the long run.
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It's Sweet Autumn Clematis Season Again!
Q
Comments (66)
I have been searching the web trying to identify a wild clematis in my yard and came across this thread. A thread that has been going for eight years. Tonight I have learned that there are several similar species and some are known by several names. Clematis terniflora has at least two synonyms:Clematis maximowicziana and Clematis paniculata. And at least three common names: Sweet Autumn Clematis, Sweet Autumn Virgin's Bower, Japanese Clematis. It is a native of Japan and in some areas is an invasive weed. In other areas it is loved like most on this thread love it. There several similar species called Sweet Autumn and virgin's bower. But, vary in number of leaflets water and light requirements. Some have no odor, some have complete flowers and some male and female flowers are on different plants. In western US the native Clematis ligusticifolia is very similar. Same rambunctious growth habit and similar scent. There are at least three cultivors of this species. One of them is naturalized here in Missouri. I am now searching to determine which I have.
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sweet autumn clematis just will not survive the winter for me
Q
Comments (1)
Sorry, I can't answer your question, since I'm not in your zone; I'm sure it's mainly a zone problem, since SAC is often rated to Z5. Maybe this plant answers your zone uncertainty, though, and puts you more firmly in Z4. On the other hand, if you really want to grow it, and if you're ever coming near Cape Cod, I can give you as many SACs as you can fit into your car. Maybe the "wild ones" would do better than the ones from the nurseries - do you think there's a chance that you may inadvertently be buying southern-grown plants? Our low temperatures don't often get into single digits, but our winters are cold, damp, and long here. SAC grows wild along alleys and in untended lots, and reseeds freely in the garden (in unwanted numbers). My sister lives in rural NJ, in zone 6, and has never had this problem; though it grows well there, it doesn't reseed.
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difference? clematis virginiana vs. sweet autumn clematis?
Q
Comments (6)
Sue, if you want to add that info to your profile so that it shows automatically by your name, here's how: Go to Your Houzz in the upper right of every page, click Edit Profile, and on the left side click advanced settings. Well down the advanced settings page is a blank labeled Climate Zone for Garden Forums along with a link to find your zone. If you add info on your state or the nearest large city you will get even better information since zone only relates to average coldest winter temperatures. Then return to the top of the page and click Done Editing.
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kentstar
Original Author
14 years ago
Your's are so beautiful! What kind of amendments do YOU add to the mix? I just add composted cow manure, peatmoss, sand if I have any, and I add a small amount of vermiculite. In late fall, about November, I will put worm castings over the bed, and maybe some alfalfa pellets, then work in in the spring.
ditas
14 years ago
Hi Kentstar - You do have plenty of time ... will grow 80'/season even w/ just a handful of cotton burr compost mixed in your native soil (of course amend if clayish).

Just to show you what an iron-like personality this garden beauty is ... after 3 yrs in the ground, had to move, after a late tornado took down her arbor along with her in Oct '08 ... couldn't dig the entire root-ball due to constraints (rocks & other plants) I dug up just a ft-round (w/ prayers & crossed fingers)this Spring - set her in a hole w/ tilled-in compost, back filled w/ same & watered well w/ MG root stimulator mix. The 1.5' tall SA with already a mass of greens, didn't even flinch!!! Â;)

A very negligible. yellowing/browning of greens, she took a bit of time to get going ... her roots got traumatized, after all. I created her an arbor-like trellis (HD plasti-coated-8' stakes & wire fencing) as she'll be moved once more in another year ... she is rapidly climbing w/ gusto, once more ... now on top of wire arbor, hurray!!! Â;)

FWIW & here's how she looked in '07 & '08 -click to see closely ... thank you!

Here is a link that might be useful: SA Clem!
kentstar
Original Author
14 years ago
Very pretty! What did you do about the seeding? I've been reading that it can seed itself all over the place. Then again, there are some others who don't have a problem with seeding.
ditas
14 years ago
G'morning Kentstar - Thank you for viewing (sorry too many pics in album).

I've read of the same & even suckering & crawling to neighbors' yards ... I was fortunate & w/ fingers crossed, she continues to be the way she is, in my piece of soil ... it's is just her 4th season (even if I consider this yr as a restart).

I read a few people in IL w/o the reported problems from others ... I talked to a few gardeners in in town, growing this beauty as well & was reassured!!! Â;)

You might call your reputable nurseries in your area, they are usually very helpful ... the Univ extension svc are, as well!

Good Luck & enjoy her lovely subtle scent as a bonus! Â;)
kentstar
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks ditas! I am crossing my fingers to that in my northern zone that SAC won't crawl to my neighbors yard or pop up in my lawn. I have also read both accounts, and I guess I'll see! lol.
I've heard "big" things about William Baffin rose too, and I planted one of those this year. Could be that both get so big that they meet eachother! lol But, my William Baffin is planted about 40 ft away from the SAC, so should be ok.

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