Please post your images.

Need to see photos. Previous issues thought to be mosaic viruses on clematis turned out to be magnesium deficiencies.

Thank you both. Here are a bunch of pics. For what it's worth, last summer tomato plants were grwoing on the other side of the fence.

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Christine

Christine can't say what this is but it doesn't look good. If you can't get any answer here have you thought about sending pictures to either Dan at Brushwood Gardens or Debbie at Silver Star Vinery both are absolutely great people and would try to help. After seeing this post I was out today gardening and their it was a clem looking like yours. Now I admit to panicking, and got rid of it it immediately (poor thing). I have around 40 clematis and fear set in. Hope this turns out to be something else. Pat

Hi Pat, well, here is what little I know about virus problems. They are most prone to spreading in the spring when the sap is rising in the plants, and possibly this might indicate that it is best to let the diseased plants alone until later in the season. I just don't know. I am having a fear/panic response also, but I think we need to proceed with knowledge. But I don't know where to go to get the knowledge.

If it is a virus, perhaps you may need to disinfect your tools (shovel, etc.) with bleach. I just don't know. You don't want to spread it to other plants. Now, this kind of panicky response might just be overblown, and it could just be a nutritional deficiency in the plants. I doubt that, though. Thanks for your reply.
Christine

That is indeed a virus. Unfortunately, there is no control for it and it can spread to other clematis (insects vector the disease). The only practical alternative is removal. While viruses are NOT common with clematis, they can occur from time to time. Cucumber mosaic virus seems to be the most common and certainly resembles the symptoms your plant displays.

Thank you gardengal48. Sigh. I will remove these beautiful plants. Do you have any knowledge of what kind of gardening practices might promote virus problems? Do I need to avoiid planting another clematis in the same spot?
Christine

I'd not really consider your gardening practices at issue :-) Rather it is more a matter of planting disease-free stock (hard to guarantee by sight) and making sure any insect issues are controlled. Aphids seem to be the primary vector and there is a lot of discussion about aphids on nearby weed plants and their ability to transfer the pathogen. I wouldn't necessarily worry about replanting in the same location - just making sure the aphids or any other clematis-attacking nasties were well controlled!

I just found this thread ~ I wonder if my 3 Clems showing yellowing could be a viral problem.

Last year when the problem happened I took leaf samples & was told it was chlorosis & suggested iron/magnisium liquid treatment which I followed. Ramona bounced back tho not as she was in previous years. Here are pix ~ click on frame for a closer view!

TIA for your thoughts!

Here is a link that might be useful: Chlorosis or Virus?

Awww Anniegolden ~ how very sad to lose such a beauty! I've had Clematis for many years tho have just since last year, learning more about then!

Except for the sudden wilt/browning syndrome on a few, they grew & bloomed beautifully for all those past 10 years until last year ~ just when I started learning quite a bit more on how to care for them ~ how odd!

FWIW!

In case my link above won't open pix ~ let me try again.

BTW I started researching on Clematis Viruses & found some pictures to compare ~ the* cucumber-virus* foliage looked different as well as the tomato-virus that what I see on my 3 Clemmies. I hope mine are suffering from iron/magnisium deficiency. Will see how they do after treatments.

Click on pix to enlarge ~ FWIW ~ TIA

Here is a link that might be useful: Sick Clems

I am no expert, but in your photos, the yellowing seems to be between the veins, unlike in my photos where it is the veins themselves that turn yellow. Also, my plants do not have any leaves which are entirely yellow. I would say that your plants are not virused.
Christine

Thanks again Christine, for your reassurance ~ just when (after years) I finally learned about the *sudden-wilt syndrome* problems & remedies on some of my Clems ~ then Chlorosis & viruses are new problems we have to deal with!

I've just learned a few years ago about HVX on a few Hostas, that as well have no cure & have to be destroyed! However Hostas multiply so easily unlike Clems!!!

Last season I dealt with those pesky *Japanese Beetles* on a few rose bushes ~ they didn't go for all bushes, just their favorite ones ... ah the fun of our hobby of dirt-digging!!!