A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Plants and Flowers Forum Another Clematis Question

My clematis dies at least three times during the season and then comes back again. The vine just dries up, turns black and I think it's dead and next thing I know there's a new shoot coming up.

It is called "Blue Moon", blooms on new wood (I get one or two blooms everytime it comes back). It is in full sun with it's feet in the shade (it is planted amongst some peonies) and grows up a trellis.

Any ideas why it does this or how to keep it from happening?

One possible culprit is clematis wilt, an infection that causes parts or all of the plant to wilt, dry up and die back to the ground. If you suspect this may be the problem, clean up any debris around the plant and add some good compost to the soil.
Does it get sufficient water? Extremely dry soil may cause it to die back, also.

Yes, it gets sufficient water but I am wondering about the Clematis wilt. I did cut down all the peonies and cleared out the area just last week. The newest growth on the Clematis is doing well right now, though we will probably get frost soon. This happens every year.

Hi dsegel
the blue moon is a repeat bloomer, I don't know how long you've had it,, but I also have repeat bloomers,, spring , mid summer , and fall all off new growth, when it dies back. I do cut off dead wood in the spring just as it begins to put put blooms , new growth will promote more blooms,, but this one also blooms off old wood ^Prune back only to a bud growth as well as dead head all spent blooms *after they have dried up* ...
Mine dries up as well after it's flush of blooms but still retains some leaves,, Do you fertilize it? they are heavy feeders and like it,, any organic rose food is good and is it getting plenty of watering they like moisture but but not saturated, From what I've read Bluemoon does better in semi shade,, Also Bluemoon has been renamed as Clair de Lune

http://www.grandislenursery.com/ClematisBlueMoon.htm

Thanks for your answers. I've just done some reading on Clematis wilt and sounds like I have it. Next year I will try a systemic fungicide and also fertilize and mulch well. From what I have read, it may always have this problem.

I was going to suggest the reblooming theory. My clematis always bloomed on new and old wood....was always nice to have blooms on it in various times of the summer.