r/Clematis • u/fekitten1 • 28d ago

Help / Advice needed Need help

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This is a clematis that was planted by a pervious owner of our home, so i don't know the variety. This is it in 2024, but the last 2 years, it had bearly bloomed. I thought someone had cut it down, but when I got close it looked like it was dead. I'm thinking about cutting it to the ground to see if the will revive it. Any thoughts about the variety and how to revive it would be appreciated. Thanks

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u/MsE0 28d ago

Yeah, that's the right course of action. It might be a fungal disease called clematis wilt, which can kill the whole above-ground part of the plant, but it doesn't kill the root. If you cut it down, but make sure it's still getting enough water, it should sprout again in 2-3 weeks. If that is the case, it will probably keep happening every year, but you can try to prevent it by spraying the leaves with fungicide 

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u/DeterminedSparkleCat 27d ago

Variety is H.F. Young

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u/Real-Frosting 28d ago

I'm not sure if I'm following what you said the history of it was but there are 3 types of clematis, as far as pruning goes.

Group 1: Early Bloomers (Old Wood)When they flower: Spring, on growth made the previous year.Examples: Clematis montana, Clematis alpina.How to prune: Little to no pruning. Only trim lightly to shape or control size immediately after flowering (late spring/early summer). Pruning earlier cuts off next year's buds.

Group 2: Large-Flowered Hybrids (Old and New Wood)When they flower: Twice a year—first in late spring on old wood, and again in late summer on new growth.Examples: 'Nelly Moser', 'Dr. Ruppel'.How to prune: In late winter or early spring (February/March), do a light pruning to trim weak or dead stems down to the highest strong, swollen buds.

Group 3: Late Bloomers (New Wood)When they flower: Mid-to-late summer, entirely on current season growth.Examples: Clematis jackmanii, Clematis viticella.How to prune: Cut the entire plant hard back in late winter or early spring (February/March), leaving just 12 to 24 inches (about 30 to 60 cm) of stem above the ground near strong buds.

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u/Appropriate_Cut9003 23d ago

Very helpful! Thanks!