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Why isn't my clematis growing/flowering this year?

anniedtanniedt Posts: 85
in Plants
I have had Clematis Lunar Lass for about four years now.  It was staked in a pot when I bought it.  I removed the stake and planted it next to a trellis against a wall in the sunniest spot in the garden.  It didn't grow very much so after a couple of years I re-planted it in a large square container in sun/semi-shade with something to climb up.  It had a few flowers last year but little growth.  This year, no flowers and little growth yet the label says when fully grown it should reach 3 metres.  What am I doing wrong?

Posts

  • BijdezeeBijdezee Posts: 1,484
    edited May 2020
    Clematis are better in the ground. They only perform OK in a container for a couple of years. Can you plant it into the ground? Or is this not possible?

    I don't know this variety so I looked it up, interestingly it is described as 'trailing' or scrambling. Not really suitable for how you are growing it. 

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/93840/Clematis-Lunar-Lass-(Fo-f)/Details

    It's also not very hardy being only H2
    Doesn't like frosts etc, very different from most clematis. 
  • anniedtanniedt Posts: 85
    Thank you for that.  I had a clematis Montana in a similar pot for years but it did slowly lose vigour.  My garden is a small courtyard one with a raised bed that I have planned and planted, so I will have to have a good think about where I might be able to plant it. Thank you for the link.  I note it could scramble over other shrubs so that's an idea.  I also note the ultimate height is 0.5 - 1 metre so the label was well off the pace!
  • BijdezeeBijdezee Posts: 1,484
    Never trust the labels lol, they are a bit hit and miss. Hope you find somewhere suitable for it. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Use this site @anniedt - lots of useful info
    http://clematisontheweb.org/index.cfm

    Check out the specialist sites too - Taylor's Clematis, Thorncroft and Hawthorne's. There's excellent info on all of them   :)
    If you've kept moving it, that won't have helped it establish either. They need a few years to settle in anyway. The little evergreen ones tend to be less hardy too. Labels are often wrong - or plants can be mis labelled  ;)
    Your montana will have eventually suffered from being potted. The need to be in the ground, unless you're really vigilant, and have an adequate container - purpose built usually.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • anniedtanniedt Posts: 85
    Thank you for the link and the information.  I was pleased to hear the clematis grower on the Chelsea Flower Show programme this week say that there are clematis specially grown for pots. :-)
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