Lack of flowers on Clematis Montana

Angie.kellett · April 2020

I have two large pink clematis Montana at opposite ends of my Cardiff garden which are over 20 years old. Each year they are a mass of flowers - until this year! There are only a handful of flowers on both plants, although there is lots of healthy-looking growth and foliage. They seem to have enjoyed benign neglect in the past, and only get pruned when I have to cut back growth over the path. Any ideas why this year is so different to the others? We've had a mild but very wet winter here - could that be the problem?

AnniD · April 2020

Hello Angie

The normal opinion is that it's down to drought, there was an old thread here with a similar problem
https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1029709/clematis-montana-no-flowers
Maybe it dried out over last summer?
@Fairygirl might be able to help.

Fairygirl · April 2020

Hi @Angie.kellett - mild and wet is fine for it, but it may have got a bit dehydrated last year and it's been difficult to get enough energy for new flowers. They may also just be a bit worn out as they're older, but I doubt that really. If it's otherwise healthy, I wouldn't worry too much. A small feed, and watering generously if it's on the dry side, and hopefully it will come back.

Sorry - that wasn't terribly helpful!

Mary370 · April 2020

My pink Montana died last year, wasn't nearly as vigorous as the white flowered one, think mine died from drought but I never watered either one ..........

Angie.kellett · April 2020

Thanks all. I'll give them a bit of TLC this year and hopefully they'll be back to their full glory next!

Lack of flowers on Clematis Montana

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