[MargeSimpson]

I have had to cut my clematis back to ground level twice already this year. It grows back well each time but I can't keep going like this. It's only a couple of feet high again and the growing season will soon be over.

Is there anything I can do to prevent this from happening. I have a clematis at the other end of the garden and it's going the same way also.

It's really disappointing when it gets so far then has to be cut back. Each time I cut it back to below ground level.

_s

[birdie]

You are doing the right thing cutting it back to below the wilt every time Marge. What variety is the Clematis, because some varieties are very open to Clematis wilt disease?

[verge]

There are some summer to autumn flowering clematis that are resistant to clematis wilt. It is a group called the viticella clematis. I don't know what ones are in that group though, maybe another member will
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Q. What is the best soil for growing plants?
A. Your soil.

[MargeSimpson]

I have two varieties of Clemetis -

Clematis 'Jackmanii' and Clematis 'Ernest Markham'

[GPI]

You are spot on Verge.

Viticella Clematis are easy to grow and very resistant to Clematis wilt.
They are not as fast growing as some clematis eg. montana, however the grow moderately fast and on average reach up to 3 m. Flowers are usually of the shape of an open, slightly nodding bell measuring between 4 and 13 cm.

They bloom abundantly in summer (from mid-June) and autumn on the current year's shoots and should be hard-pruned in the early spring. Excellent for all types of garden supports and fences or for growing through shrubs, roses and into small trees, adorning their hosts with abundant blossoms.

So Marge, see if you can track down any of these babies......

C. 'Abundance'
deep red, textured flowers of 5-7 cm with greenish-yellow stamens.

C. 'Alba Luxurians'
white flowers of 5-8 cm with green edges and crimson stamens.

C. 'Betty Corning'
bell-shaped, rose-lilac flowers of 5-7 cm with a sweet fragrance.

C. 'Emilia Plater'
pale blue flowers of 8-13 cm with creamy stamens.

C. 'Etoile Violette'
very popular cultivar with deep violet flowers of 8-13 cm and nicely contrasting yellow stamens.

C. 'Kermesina' (or C. 'Rubra')
deep red flowers of 5-8 cm, with crimson stamens.

C. Madame Julia Correvon
red flowers of 8-13 cm with yellow stamens.

C. 'Minuet'
flowers of 4-7 cm are white with deep red veining and edges. Green stamens.

C. 'Royal Velours'
deep red velvety flowers of 6-10 cm.

C. 'Venosa Violacea' flowers of 8-13 cm, white with violet veining, edges, and stamens.

C. viticella
violet flowers of 3-6 cm with a white center and pale yellow stamens.
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[crosseyedsheep]

This site has loads of info regarding wilt.