Gee, sorry to hear the news. But who know? Maybe next spring will bring a surprise. I've several times had clems that "disappeared" not long after planting--I finally gave them up as goners--and the next year, there they were again! Hope that will be yours also.

Kate

Yes, I'm afraid I didn't do too well with Chalk Hill either. One, I know, is underground waiting for spring, because when I tried to plant another one in the same place, I unearthed a batch of roots with 3 white shoots attached. I re-covered it, marked it carefully, and have been watering and fertilizing its location this summer, hoping it will appear next spring. BUT, I know some I ordered won't be back, because there's no sign of any roots or crown there.

I planted two SACs approx. 7 years ago. Only one grew, I just noticed the other one coming up. Planted two Bees Jubilee 5 years ago, only one grew, also noticed the other one coming up last week. I am never going to declared a clematis as dead again.

I forgot about Cassis being DOA so I paid over $80 for one survivor.

Four of these Clematis have already had a year to come back from the dead. Careful digging in the pots and area where they were planted revealed no roots or shoots or crown.

I'm hoping that Tie Dye comes back since it was actively growing when I planted it out. It reached two feet tall and had multiple stems.

My Josephine and Franziska Maria aren't back up yet. I thought I would help them develop a better root system by cutting them back to the ground. What a dummy! That was almost 2 months ago now! (Both were in their third year now, and still gangly and only had a couple vines) I still hold out hope that next year will see them back. I will do no more cutting back to the ground unless they wilt on me. I promise, cross my heart, and hope to be a better gardener lol..

I've cut many to the ground or almost to the ground (less than six inches) It doens't hurt them at all. You did nothing wrong. Hard pruning helps Clematis it doesn't hurt them.

I've got two of twelve. Expensive lesson. But my Joy Creek's are doing fabulously.
kay

One of two from Silver Star lived, the color of second choice, of course.
It's too much money for the small plants I have gotten mail order, and after shipping and dying, I spent over 50 bucks for a tiny plant in a color I don't care for.

I went to a local nursery and bought a huge five gallon Julia Correvon in full bloom for 54 bucks. At least it will take me longer to kill a big plant.

Renee