Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Are my clematis dead??

theluciblacktheluciblack Posts: 38
in Problem solving
These are Broughton Bride and Koreana Amber. Both group 1. Are they dead or just sleeping?  :/

Bride was planted in early summer, Amber in late summer. It’s quite a dry bed, and my worry is I may have not watered enough. 

What do y’all think??? I’m new at clematis.

i
«13

Posts

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    They may be asleep for the winter. My clematis look like that in winter. You can scratch the stem and see if there is any green, but I prefer not to do that in winter. Wait and see what happens in spring.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    To be honest, @theluciblack , at this time of year most clematis look like a load of dead twigs. I think the one in the top photos has possible signs of life. You could try the fingernail test (gently rub the bark near the bottom with your fingernail, if the bark is green it's alive) , but l am not a clematis expert. There are quite a few on this forum, and l am sure one will be along directly !
  • Kitty 2Kitty 2 Posts: 5,150
    Zooming in I can see new buds on the stems.
    I'd say not dead... just sleeping 💤
    As Busy Lizzie and Anni said, most of our clematis look exactly the same at this time of year.
  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    Our Amber also looks like yours, they go to sleep.
    Also they (like the alpina and macropetala types) have a fine root system unlike the bigger group two which have chunky bootlace style roots.

    The finer rooted ones do not like it too wet especially winter wet and prefer the drier free draining conditions.

    I think Busy Lizzie is right do not disturb. The stems tend to be brittle too so easy to snap them on young plants.

  • theluciblacktheluciblack Posts: 38
    Ah you guys never fail to reassure!! Thank you all so very much, I will stay hopeful and wait for spring  :*<3  :)
  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
    I must say that some of my clematis (Rebecca and Guernsey Cream) are looking like yours do theluciblack, and I was concerned that they may be dying too, however others still have leaves on them (mostly the Montanas).  Even the dead looking clematis have the most tiny, just green buds, so I am hoping they will make it through the next few weeks of possibly colder weather and produce healthy growth in the Spring.
  • Valley GardenerValley Gardener Posts: 2,851
    What has happened to my Daniel Deronda? He's completely disappeared? The Montana's have twigs,albeit dead ones,and Ernest Markham still has long twiggy bits.  Typical that the cheapest have survived!!
    The whole truth is an instrument that can only be played by an expert.
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254
    It's too early to say.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Have you had a look to see if there's anything below soil level ?
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I’d leave them alone until Spring then see if they shoot, I think I can see life on one of them, too soon to say.  Mine look the same.
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

Sign In or Register to comment.