I remember when I was a teenager and my mum planted a clematis to cover a tree trunk (facing west). For support my dad thought it would be a good idea to nail the stems to the trunk with cable clips (you see where I'm going with this story?)
They literally crucified it the poor plant shriveled and died in the hot sun. We can laugh about it now....I think
I have grown all sorts of clematis successfully in ceramic pots and also plastic - getting them ready for life in the ground and, lately, for moving to a new garden. They are all still there waiting to be planted and not wilting at all tho in full sun in 32C today. The only one in trouble is a young one from last spring that has been "pruned" by snails but is now showing signs of regrowth.
I wonder if maybe yours got frosted recently or if you have a naughty slug or snail or 3 that are chewing the stems at the base. Both would cause wilting. Try some slug pellets or going out after dark witha torch and picking them off or both methods to be sure. If the root system is healthy it should recover.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
It looks very much like wind damage to me, is it in a windy spot ? Also, you need to grow x triternata rubromarginata in full sun, to get the really strong perfume... it is a viticella crossed with a flammula, the viticellas are relatively easy, flammula is rather finicky, but this cross is many years old and it should romp away. Was it a full size plant you planted, or a supermarket liner ?
I have no idea what a supermarket liner is, I'm afraid. It looks like a full sized plant when I bought it - from a specialist online nursery.
The spot it's in is very sheltered. Virtually no wind in my little garden, which is rather enclosed too.
It gets about 6 hours of sun a day, on a sunny day (morning sun for an hour or so, then afternoon sun. But we have had miserable weather in London, with very little sun recently.
It will go into the ground this autumn and I will put it in fuller sun.
The eco ones should be used sparingly and they don't cause the slug or snail to burst. They burrow deep and stop eating so no sign it's worked other than no more damage..
Richard has a clematis nursery so I expect he has given the correct diagnosis, especially if your garden was subject to the recent strong, cold northerly blast from the Arctic.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
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Ok Ladybird, I will try that. Thanks.
I remember when I was a teenager and my mum planted a clematis to cover a tree trunk (facing west). For support my dad thought it would be a good idea to nail the stems to the trunk with cable clips
(you see where I'm going with this story?)
They literally crucified it
the poor plant shriveled and died in the hot sun. We can laugh about it now....I think 
Save yours Jess.... before it's too late.
I am going out there right now to move it down onto the cooler patio!
Classic story, by the way
I have grown all sorts of clematis successfully in ceramic pots and also plastic - getting them ready for life in the ground and, lately, for moving to a new garden. They are all still there waiting to be planted and not wilting at all tho in full sun in 32C today. The only one in trouble is a young one from last spring that has been "pruned" by snails but is now showing signs of regrowth.
I wonder if maybe yours got frosted recently or if you have a naughty slug or snail or 3 that are chewing the stems at the base. Both would cause wilting. Try some slug pellets or going out after dark witha torch and picking them off or both methods to be sure. If the root system is healthy it should recover.
Try to avoid slug pellets - they are poisonous to more than slugs and snails.
Last edited: 16 May 2017 17:30:23
It looks very much like wind damage to me, is it in a windy spot ? Also, you need to grow x triternata rubromarginata in full sun, to get the really strong perfume... it is a viticella crossed with a flammula, the viticellas are relatively easy, flammula is rather finicky, but this cross is many years old and it should romp away. Was it a full size plant you planted, or a supermarket liner ?
I have no idea what a supermarket liner is, I'm afraid. It looks like a full sized plant when I bought it - from a specialist online nursery.
The spot it's in is very sheltered. Virtually no wind in my little garden, which is rather enclosed too.
It gets about 6 hours of sun a day, on a sunny day (morning sun for an hour or so, then afternoon sun. But we have had miserable weather in London, with very little sun recently.
It will go into the ground this autumn and I will put it in fuller sun.
Thanks Obelixx - I had scattered slug pellets over it (the eco version though) and I don't see any trace of slime anywhere...
Absolutely no frost in London in inner London, since I planted it - that I am sure about!
Ladybird - I use them very very sparingly and try to stick with copper tape, sand/fine grit instead, wherever possible.
The eco ones should be used sparingly and they don't cause the slug or snail to burst. They burrow deep and stop eating so no sign it's worked other than no more damage..
Richard has a clematis nursery so I expect he has given the correct diagnosis, especially if your garden was subject to the recent strong, cold northerly blast from the Arctic.